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Moscow hails normalisation of US ties as Cuba’s victory

Moscow has congratulated the Cuban people on the outstanding success of the Cuban leadership, the Cuban diplomacy

© AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

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History of US-Cuba relations

HAVANA, February 6. /TASS/. Russia believes that the normalization of relations between Havana and Washington is the political and moral victory of the Cuban people, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vassily Nebenzya said.

"We see in this the political and moral victory of the Cuban people over the enemy, which has a much greater financial, military and economic power than them," the Russian diplomat told journalists on Thursday following two-day consultations between the representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Cuba.

Havana has informed the Russian side "in detail and in confidence" about the outcome of the Cuban-US negotiations and its stance on the development of the relations’ normalization, Nebenzya told the briefing.

"We congratulated our Cuban friends on the outstanding success of the Cuban leadership, the Cuban diplomacy and all the Cuban people," the Russian diplomat said, stressing that the December 17 talks are an important step but this is "just the beginning of a very long way."

On December 17, 2014, US President Barack Obama unveiled plans to open a new chapter in the relations with Cuba. He admitted that the policy of isolation of the Freedom Island for more than five decades had not produced the desired results and said the trade embargo against Havana would be mitigated.

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Washington is looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months and also remove a range of barriers for trips to the island and restrictions for US exporters.

Nebenzya led a delegation to Havana for consultations on bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The Russian diplomat met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Vice Chairman of the Cuban Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas.

These were the first consultations between Russia and Cuba in such an extended format, Nebenzya said, adding that the Russian side believes that they were "very successful" and the positions of the two countries on major international issues almost coincide.

Both countries share a common interest in seeing a just and multipolar world order, based on "equality, adherence to international law and respect for it with the central role of the United Nations.".

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Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Cuba

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