Washington, April 8 (RHC)-- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he would act to take Cuba off the list of terrorism-sponsoring countries once he gets a State Department recommendation.

"As soon as I get a recommendation, I'll be in a position to act on it," Obama said in an interview with National Public Radio.

“Understand that the criteria is very straightforward: "Is this particular country considered a state sponsor of terrorism," not,” he said to NPR's Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep.

Obama added that the U.S. hopes to be in a position to have an embassy in Cuba and have more regular contacts and consultations on different issues. "What I'm saying is, I'm going to be taking a very close look at what the State Department recommends," Obama said.

Following the December 17 announcement of diplomatic rapprochement with Cuba, the Obama administration had expressed desire to have an embassy open in Cuba by the time of the April 10-11 Summit of the Americas this week.

Obama is expected to meet there with Cuban president Raul Castro.