Times 2

Obama eases Cuba travel curbs

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (AFP) -President Barack Obama has eased restrictions on visas, remittances and travel under the US embargo on Cuba, in a bid to weaken the long grip on power of the communist Havana government.

The move will expand religious and educational travel between the United States and Cuba, allow any airport to offer charter flights to the country and restore cultural initiatives suspended by the previous Bush administration.

“These measures will increase people-to-people contact, support civil society in Cuba; enhance the free flow of information to, from, and among the Cuban people and help promote their independence from Cuban authorities,” the White House said in a statement.

“The president believes these actions, combined with the continuation of the embargo, are important steps in reaching the widely shared goal of a Cuba that respects the basic rights of all its citizens.
“These steps build upon the president's April 2009 actions to help reunite divided Cuban families; to facilitate greater telecommunications with the Cuban people; and to increase humanitarian flows to Cuba.”

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other Times 2 Articles
Tunisia: First Wikileaks Revolution
People power revolt far from over; but PM pledges calm
More than 100 dead in Indian pilgrimage stampede
Volunteer army cleans up as Australian floods spread
Gunmen kill 17 in new violence in Karachi
Poland overjoyed at John Paul II beatification
Argentine dinosaur paved way for T. rex
Obama eases Cuba travel curbs
Zsa Zsa Gabor has leg amputated to save life
Ronald Reagan's son claims his father had Alzheimer's while in the White House
The real-life Da Vinci Code
India blasts: Holy man confesses
Brick MW
Itlaian Premier faces probe on prostitute link
The Toylet
Scientists create GM 'superchicken' that doesn't spread bird flu
Mass foetus find stokes Thai abortion debate
WikiLeaks makes $15,000 pledge to defence fund of soldier accused of leaking diplomatic cables
In France, far right seizes on Muslim street prayers
Hu's going to Washington
Cold War II: How to solve a problem like China?
Will others follow Latin America on Palestine?

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2011 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution