HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 28 (acn) The United States exempted dozens of foreign companies and individuals appearing on its sanctions list for having economic and financial relations with Cuba.
The US State Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published the list of countries exempted on its website, which includes entities from Germany, Cyprus, Kuwait, Ecuador, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela.
Some companies on the list of sanctions were Nicaragua´s Aerotaxi Ejectivo S.A.; Burgan International, from Kuwait; Cyprus´Senanque Shipping Co; as well as International Petroleum, S.A and Commercial Muralla and Deprosa S.A., from Panama.
Also on the list of exempted entities is Fenix International of Venezuela and Gemex Aussenhandels GMBH, from Germany, among others, along with a group of individuals most of them based in Panama, according to the webpage.
Cuba and the United States reestablished diplomatic relations on July 20, and on August 14 Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Havana to preside over the flag raising ceremony at the new US embassy here.
On July 20, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez headed a similar flag-raising ceremony at the Cuban embassy in Washington D.C.
Cuban authorities say that the main obstacle on the road to normal US-Cuba relations is the over-50-year US economic, financial and commercial blockade of the island, which is still in force.
