Managua, February 13 (RHC) -– Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has reiterated his rejection of the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba and said that as long as such a policy exists, the normalization of ties between Washington and Havana will be hard to attain.

During a meeting in the Nicaraguan capital with the Russian Minister of Defense Serguéi Shoigu, Ortega said the end of U.S. sanctions against Cuba would establish a strong foundation for a new relationship between the two nations.

Moreover, he considered Latin America has still mach unfinished business, such as the illegal naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, the dispute over the Malvinas Islands and the issue of Puerto Rican independence.

The visiting Russian defense minister was granted a distinction by the Nicaraguan president during the meeting, which followed the signing of several agreements for cooperation in the campaign against drug trafficking and organized crime.

Shoigu arrived in Nicaragua from Venezuela on Wednesday, the first stop of a tour that will now take him to Cuba.