Raul Castro: US and Cuba ambassadors to be named soon

HAVANA (AP) – Cuba and the U.S. will name ambassadors to each other’s countries after the island is removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism later this month, Cuban President Raul Castro said Tuesday.

Castro spoke to journalists at Havana’s international airport after seeing off visiting French President Francois Hollande.

The United States and Cuba have not had full diplomatic relations since 1961. Currently they have lower-level missions called Interests Sections in each other’s countries, under the protection of the Swiss government.

President Barack Obama in April announced his decision to remove Cuba from the terror list, which was seen a major obstacle for the opening of full embassies. A 45-day waiting period that would give Congress time to take action on Obama’s decision ends on May 29.

Havana long has resented the terror designation as false and unfair.

“This sort of unjust accusation is about to be lifted and we’ll be able to name ambassadors,” Castro said.

Castro and Obama announced in December they would work toward a restoration of diplomatic relations after more than a half-century.

The Cuban president also said Tuesday he had expressed his concerns to Obama about the activities of some American diplomats at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, which he characterized as “illegal.”

Cuban authorities long have taken exception to contacts between U.S. officials and dissidents on the island.