Castro comes to U.S. for the first time in XXI century

The statesman’s agenda includes his presence at the meeting of the main deliberative body of the United Nations, where he will listen to a speech by Pope Francis, and this will be used to begin the summit aimed at adopting 17 sustainable development goals for the 2015-2030 period.

Castro defined the thaw in relations between Cuba and the United States after more than a century of ideological confrontation as “an important step forward”, but stressed that the embargo in place since the 60’s remains in place.

Since the rapprochement with Cuba, President Barack Obama’s administration has expressed support for lifting the embargo, but the decision rests with Congress, where a Republican majority opposes the move.

“Such a policy is rejected by 188 United Nations member-states that demand its removal”, Castro told a UN development summit, referring to a UN resolution calling for the end of the decades-old embargo.

Cuba estimates the embargo has caused $121 billion in damage to its economy.

Adoption of the resolution has become an annual ritual. While the General Assembly’s vote is nonbinding and symbolic, it has served to highlight USA isolation regarding Havana.

The Cuban president has already made use of his visit to New York to meet with, among others, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and with such USA authorities as New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Following his speech on Saturday, Castro will speak at the General Assembly again next Monday, when Obama will also be present after arriving Sunday in New York.