Havana, Mar 30 (RHC) Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told Ecuadoran media that the lifting of Washington’s blockade against Cuba should be a unilateral U.S. action and not the result of any U.S.-Cuba negotiation. And an end to those economic, financial and commercial sanctions should not be in response to concessions made by Cuba either, stated the minister.

Interviewed via telephone by Ecuador’s public radio and TV, Rodriguez stressed that it is not Cuba that keeps sanctions against the United States, or imposes discriminatory regulations against U.S. companies or travelers. The fact remains—he said—that despite measures recently announced by U.S. President Barack Obama, the U.S. blockade against Cuba remains in force.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also noted that President Obama's announced decision to authorize the use by Cuba of U.S. dollars has been mere words, as Cuban banks are still kept from opening accounts in the U.S.

Bruno Rodriguez finally warned that no one can speak of normal bilateral relations while the US continues to illegally occupy the Eastern Cuban territory of Guantanamo and to finance radio and TV broadcasts to disrupt constitutional order in Cuba.