Latin Countries Ask for Lifting of Cuban Blockade
The 19 countries attending the Iberian-American Summit ended the 2 day meeting with a 31 point declaration, of which the most controversial was the plea for an end to the US blockade of Cuba.
The declaration also mentions: concern about terrorism, cooperation in the extradition of criminals, the Haitian elections, and literacy in Latin countries. Although Fidel Castro was not attending, the leaders at the summit asked the US to lift the financial and commercial embargo against Cuba.
“In particular, we ask the government of the United States to immediately cease the application of measures adopted in the last 2 years that have the objective of strengthening and deepening the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade policy against Cuba. ”
The US embassy in Madrid stated that they were “uncomfortable” with the declaration, but that relations with Spain were very friendly. Some countries wanted the word “blockade” to be exchanged for “embargo”.