Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 15 /Trend News, V.Zhavoronkova/

Havana hopes for change in the U.S. policy toward Cuba.

"The new U.S. administration and Barack Obama are capable of many things, and we expect change in Washington's policy toward Havana," Cuban Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Marcello Caballero Torres said on Oct. 15. "We look to the future with optimism."

Cuba has submitted the report to the UN General Assembly on the need to lift the embargo by the United States. According to the document, the total damage of almost fifty years of the blockade exceeded $96 billion. On Oct. 28 the UN will vote on the resolution on the lifting of the blockade.

In February 2009 the US House of Representatives was presented a bill easing sanctions in respect of the Latin American nations. This document was developed on the initiative of representatives of the Democratic Party of the United States.

The bill, primarily, removes the ban on travel to Cuba, imposed in 2004 by the previous administration of Republican George W. Bush. In accordance with the rules, tightening the trade and economic embargo on Havana, which operates since 1962, the Cuban-Americans allowed to travel to the island once every three years for a term of not more than fourteen days. At the same time, they are allowed to spend not more than $50 per day in Cuba.

At present, it is proposed to allow U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba once a year for an indefinite period and to spend up to $170 per day there. At the same time, it is planned to extend these rules to persons not only having close relatives in Cuba, but also distant relatives. In addition, the bill eliminates obstacles created by the former U.S. government in 2005 to complicate the process of purchasing food and medicines by Cuba in the United States.

Cuba also stands for the complete lifting of the blockade. The U.S. should lift the economic and trade and financial embargo from Cuba without preconditions, the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez has recently said.

The blockade against Cuba is illegal and should be stopped immediately, the ambassador said.