Backgrounder: Brief review on U.S.-Cuba relations

    HAVANA, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Cuban former Leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that the U.S. "measure to lighten the restriction of trips by Cuban-Americans to Cuba is positive, however it is minimum."

    Castro said in his column "Reflections" published on Tuesday by Cuba Debate website that still "many other measures are missing, including the elimination of the killer Law of Cuban Adjustment."

    The 1966 law, which the U.S. exclusively applies to Cuba, grants Cubans who reach US soil automatic residency.

    In his article entitled "Days that can not be forgotten," Castro mentioned the attack against Cuba on April 1961 made by anti-Cuba forces supported by Washington.

    He urged the U.S. to make self-criticism and guarantee that what happened in 1961 would never repeat.

    Castro said, "the great power" could do the same to any Latin American country, and this already has happened, for example in Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela, either by directly sending troops or by supporting their domestic opposition.

    The U.S. president Barack Obama lifted restrictions on travel and money transfer to Cuba, opening a crack in a 47-year-old embargo against Havana.

    In his article, Castro also recognized Obama's disposition to cooperate on issues like climate change.

Obama lifts restrictions on travel, money transfers to Cuba 

Cubans welcome relatives arriving from the U.S. at Havana's Jose Marti airport April 13, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday lifted restrictions on travel and money transfers by Cuban-Americans to Cuba, said the White House in a statement.

    "Supporting the Cuban people's desire to freely determine their future and that of their country is in the national interest of the United States," said the statement.

U.S., Cuba set to improve ties, seek dialogue 

Cuba's President Raul Castro (R) speaks with U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee during a meeting in Havana April 6, 2009. A U.S. congressional delegation met on Monday with Castro in his first talks with U.S. officials since taking office last year - a sign that U.S.-Cuban relations may be thawing.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HAVANA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- After half a century of ever-widening political differences, Cuba and the United States appear to have reached an opportune moment for rapprochement based on respect and mutual benefit.

    The visit by seven Democratic lawmakers from the U.S. Congress earlier this week indicated that it is possible to bring an end to the split that began when Cuba's revolution triumphed in 1959.

Cuba, U.S. move to improve ties but obstacles remain 

    HAVANA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The visit by a delegation of U.S. lawmakers to Cuba on Monday is being considered as an improvement in ties between the two countries.

    Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said he and three U.S. lawmakers had a "magnificent" conversation. It was believed to be Castro's first meeting with U.S. officials in several years, according to an article published on the website of Cuba's newspaper Juventud Rebelde on Tuesday.

Fidel Castro: Cuba is not afraid to talk with U.S. 

    HAVANA, April 6 (Xinhua) - Cuban former Leader Fidel Castro said that Havana is not afraid to talk with Washington and he hailed U.S. Senator Richard Lugar's proposal to reshape U.S.- Cuba relations, local press said on Monday.

    "There is no need to emphasize what Cuba has always said: We do not fear dialogue with the United States, nor do we need confrontation to exist, as some foolish people think," Castro said in his weekly column "Reflections" published Monday by local press.