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Castro demands US hand back Guantanamo Bay

Cuba’s President Raul Castro has called for the return of the military base at Guantanamo Bay from the United States and the lifting of blockades on the country before the establishment of diplomatic relations.

In a speech at a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Castro also called for the removal of Cuba from a terror list and reparations for damages. His speech comes after the two countries agreed to attempt to normalise diplomatic relations last month, with high-level talks being held in Havana last week.

Mr Castro said that “the reestablishment of diplomatic relations is the start of a process of normalising bilateral relations". However, he went on to say, "but this will not be possible while the blockade still exists, while they don't give back the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo naval base."

"If these problems aren't resolved, this diplomatic rapprochement wouldn't make any sense," said Mr Castro.

Earlier this week, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, wrote an open letter which seemed to approe the thawing of relations between the two countries. While maintaining that he did not "trust the policy of the US", he said,

"We will always defend co-operation and friendship with all the people of the world, including with our political adversaries."

See more from the BBC here.
 

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