Cuba Watches Bill Presented to U.S. Congress

Cuba said Thursday that it is observing with attention a draft law presented to the U.S. Congress for the partial lifting of the trade embargo imposed on the island four decades ago.

Cuban Foreign Ministry spokesman Alejandro Gonzalez said that the draft law to permit the sale of food and medicines to the island is a correct decision expressing the sentiment of the majority of the U.S. public opinion.

However, he warned that no false expectations must be harbored about the future of that proposal.

Gonzalez said that there are in the U.S. Congress some influential persons and legislators of the Miami terrorist mafia who can thwart that intention as it has happened on other occasions.

The spokesman said that Cuba has a positive appreciation of the way the U.S. public opinion is expressing itself about the blockade to Cuba and asked the Clinton administration and the legislators to take into account what the U.S. people think. Gonzalez said that what proceeds now is the total lifting of the blockade against his country and the rectification of a policy of hostility and aggression of more than 40 years.

The U.S. Congress is studying a measure that will benefit Cuba and North Korea, which would permit the sale of food and medicines to those nations, with which Washington does not maintain formal relations.

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