Havana, September 29 (RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez reiterated Tuesday that there can not be fully normalized U.S.-Cuba relations as long as the blockade policy remains in place.

During a press conference in New York, Minister Rodríguez referred to a meeting between Presidents Raúl Castro and Barack Obama earlier on Tuesday. He said that during the closed-door meeting, the Cuban president reiterated to Obama Cuba's readiness and willingness to build new relations with the US as equals, based on mutual respect.

Bruno Rodriguez said the two presidents also talked about the recent visit of Pope Francis to both the U.S. and Cuba, and about pending issues on the bilateral agenda, including Washington's blockade of Cuba.

Regarding the blockade policy, the Cuban foreign minister stressed that it is a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter. And Bruno Rodriguez reiterated the words of President Raúl Castro, when he said that as long as the blockade is in place, Cuba will continue to submit annual resolutions against it at the UN General Assembly.