US removes 45 Cuban entities from sanctions list
The United States has removed 45 Cuban companies and individuals from a sanctions list as Washington and Havana are negotiating to restore diplomatic ties after more than five decades.
The US Treasury Department said Tuesday the delisting was aimed at clearing "out-of-date" names from its list of “Specially Designated Nationals.”
The Treasury Department gave no details on why the companies and individuals, who are mostly dead or defunct, had been on its sanctions list.
Nonetheless, more than 200 other Cuban entities remain under US sanctions and the country is still on the US' so-called "state sponsors of terrorism list."
President Barack Obama announced in December that the US would start talks with Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in American foreign policy towards the communist country in over 50 years.
“While these removals are not related to the recent changes to our Cuba sanctions program and rather reflect the Office of Foreign Asset Control’s consistent effort to review and update its Specially Designated Nationals list, these de-listings are in line with the president’s Cuba policy,” the Treasury said.
The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 and placed an official embargo against the country in 1962.
The two countries became ideological foes soon after the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power and their ties remained hostile even after the end of the Cold War.
However, Washington and Havana have already held three rounds of talks since January to restore diplomatic ties.
The two countries held 18 months of secret talks that led to a joint announcement on December 17 that the two long-time adversaries would restore diplomatic relations and release prisoners on both sides.
AHT/AGB
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