Santiago de Chile, January 12 (RHC-PL) -- Chilean Government Minister Alvaro Elizalde, and Minister of Women, Claudia Pascual, welcomed today the rapprochement between the governments of Cuba and the United States, and called for the removal of economic sanctions against Havana.

Elizalde, official spokesman of La Moneda Palace, told Prensa Latina that the administration of Michelle Bachelet has welcomed the announcement by Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama to start a process of normalization of diplomatic relations.

“We also see that the U.S. economic blockade on Cuba has no justification and we have been very critical about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Women's Affairs Minister Claudia Pascual highlighted that in the interest of a more integrated and fraternal Latin America and the Caribbean, the news that Cuba and the United States can hold normal ties make everyone happy.

She also decried U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba, but was optimistic that the White House will work towards ending this unfair policy.

Other Chilean figures have spoken in the same manner, such as Angela Jeria, mother of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who described as positive the new stage in the ties between Cuba and the United States.