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HAVANA — Cuban President Raul Castro said Thursday that his government is willing to mend fences with bitter Cold War foe the United States and sit down to discuss anything, as long as it is a conversation between equals.
At the end of a Revolution Day ceremony marking the 59th anniversary of a failed uprising against a military barracks, Castro grabbed the microphone for apparently impromptu remarks. He echoed previous statements that no topic is off-limits, including U.S. concerns about democracy, freedom of the press and human rights on the island, as long as it is a conversation between equals."Any day they want, the table is set. This has already been said through diplomatic channels," Castro said. "If they want to talk, we will talk."Washington would have to be prepared to hear Cuba's own complaints about the treatment of those issues in the United States and its European allies, he added."We are nobody's colony, nobody's puppet," Castro said.Washington and Havana have not had diplomatic relations for five decades, and the 50-year-old U.S. embargo outlaws nearly all trade and travel to the island.
Read more @: Cuba Celebrates 59th Anniversary Of Revolution
Raúl: Resisting the empire for 50 years is the great accomplishment of the Cuban people
President of the Councils of State and Minister, Army General Raúl Castro congratulated the people of Guantánamo for their efforts and the magnificent 26th of July commemoration, conveying to them a warm embrace from Fidel
At the conclusion of the national commemoration of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes garrisons, Raúl said that resisting the empire for 50 years is the great accomplishment of the Cuban people
Raúl reiterated that the updating of the country’s economic and social model must continue to progress, without haste, but without delay. He reaffirmed that Cuba does not fear discussion of any issue with the United States, as long as such discussion is based on equal terms.
Also speaking during the impressive event in Guantánamo, which began at 7:00am, were a young pioneer, the province’s Party Secretary Luis Torres Iribar, and First Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers, José Ramón Machado Ventura.
Read more @: granma.cu -
Cuba is not going away. Until we actually want to have a discussion with them that is the day we can move forward on this issue. Cuba si!