Obama, at UN, calls for lifting Cuba embargo

Obama, at UN, calls for lifting Cuba embargo

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Monday
called for ending the decades-old US embargo on Cuba, in his address to
the UN General Assembly.

Obama said he was confident that the US Congress will "inevitably lift
an embargo that should not be in place anymore," drawing applause from
the 193-nation assembly.

Washington and Havana reestablished diplomatic relations in July after
more than half a century of enmity.

But the US embargo, which has been in place since 1960, remains a bone
of contention as the Republican-held Congress balks at the
administration's move to end the blockade.

Obama acknowledged that Washington's Cuba policy had "failed to improve
the lives of the Cuban people" but stressed that human rights remained a
concern in relations with Havana.

Obama spoke ahead of Cuban leader Raul Castro's first address to the UN
General Assembly and a meeting is planned Tuesday between the two
leaders, only the second since the thaw in relations.

Source: Obama, at UN, calls for lifting Cuba embargo - Yahoo News -
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-un-calls-lifting-cuba-embargo-144741386.html