Cuba rejects inclusion in arbitrary list by the U.S.

Havana, Dec 2 (RHC) Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla today rejected the inclusion of Cuba in a list drawn up by the United States of countries where religious freedom is allegedly violated.

In his Twitter account, the foreign minister expressed that "the designation of our country in the arbitrary list shows that, once again, the US government needs to resort to false accusations to maintain an unsustainable policy of abuse against the Cuban people".

He went on to point out that "it is well known that in Cuba there is religious freedom".

This Friday Cuba and Nicaragua were included in a list unilaterally created by Washington of countries that in the opinion of the U.S. government systematically violate religious freedom, which entails possible sanctions against these nations.

Press reports indicate that in the annual list of "Countries of Special Concern" of the State Department, nations such as China, Saudi Arabia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Myanmar, Eritrea, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan appear again this year.

As established by Washington, the countries appearing on its arbitrary list are subject to possible sanctions such as the cancellation of scientific and cultural exchanges, the suspension of development assistance, and the blocking of loans or export restrictions. (Prensa Latina)