Washington, May 23 (Prensa Latina) Democratic senator and presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar reiterated her support for the lifting of the almost 60-year-old economic, commercial and financial blockade that the United States government is currently hardening even more against Cuba.
In statements to Prensa Latina, the Minnesota legislator recalled that she has spearheaded the introduction of bills in the U.S. Congress to put an end to that hostile policy, which she described as a failure.
I led the draft to lift the embargo (blockade) and I still believe it is what we should do, more than 50 years of failed policy does not have to mean another 50 years of that same policy, she said.
We must end the embargo (‘blockade’) while making sure we keep our commitment to human rights, Klobuchar added, stating she will never forget the trips she has made to Cuba, where she has seen people interested in working with the United States.
The senator also said she disagreed with the measures taken against Cuba by Republican President Donald Trump’s administration, which has reversed the bilateral rapprochement initiated in late 2014 under Barack Obama (2009-2017).
Trump has taken on an open hostile path towards Cuba, which has resulted in a tightening of the blockade with moves such as the recent activation of Title III of the controversial Helms-Burton Act, and the announcement of more restrictions on travel and remittances.
Klobuchar, along with his colleagues Patrick Leahy (Democrat) and Mike Enzi (Republican), presented last February the bill for Freedom of Export to Cuba, aimed at lifting the blockade.
Instead of looking to the future, US policy has been trapped for too long by past conflicts, she said then.
Cuba is a country of 11 million inhabitants, only 90 miles from our border, the senator added, who considered that the end of the blockade will open the doors to a large export market, create jobs and help US and Cuban economies.
Klobuchar, along with other legislators, businessmen and representatives from various sectors, participated on Tuesday in a summit organized in Congress by the US-Cuba Business Council of the Chamber of Commerce.
The meeting was seen as a sign that broad sectors in the US continue to be interested in expanding ties with the neighboring country.
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