Havana, Mar 18, (RHC), – The United States should remove Cuba from the list of countries sponsors of terrorism and return the Guantanamo military base to Cuba, says Konstantin Kosachyov, the head of the Russian Federation Council international affairs committee.

Kosachyov is leading a delegation of Federation Council members visiting Cuba.

Speaking to students of Havana University, Kosachyov also said that Washington should lift its economic sanctions on Cuba.

Regarding Guantanamo, Kosachyov said there are no legal, political, or historical grounds for the U.S. to use this base nowadays.

"And the first step on this way, which [U.S. President Barack] Obama promised long ago, is the closure of the notorious U.S. prison in Guantanamo. This must be done immediately and without any reservations," Kosachyov said.

Speaking about the future reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US, the Russian politician called for both sides to strictly abide by international law regarding the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations as the basis on which the two countries should develop their relations.