Havana, June 16 (RHC)--The Cuban government has rejected what it calls the “hostile rhetoric” of President Donald Trump’s speech announcing a new U.S. policy towards the island, but said it is willing to continue “respectful dialogue” with the U.S. on topics of mutual interest.

A statement released Friday evening said Trump’s speech was loaded with such hostile rhetoric that it recalled “the times of open confrontation.”

The statement goes on to say Cuba wants to continue negotiations with the U.S. on a variety of subjects. “The last two years have shown that the two countries can cooperate and coexist in a civilized way,” the Cuban communique stresses.

In what some have called a partial reversal of the Obama administration's policies towards Cuba, Donald Trump has clamped down on some commerce and travel between the United States and Cuba but left untouched other measures introduced by President Barack Obama.