Monday, July 13, 2015

Senate leader says Congress will block some Obama moves on Cuba

Senate leader says Congress will block some Obama moves on Cuba
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Senate Republican said on Sunday that
Congress is likely to block any nominee that President Barack Obama
names as ambassador to Cuba and retain broad economic sanctions, even as
Obama moves to establish diplomatic and economic ties with the
Communist-run island.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, interviewed on the "Fox News
Sunday" television program, said the Senate is unlikely to confirm any
U.S. ambassador to Havana nominated by Obama.

McConnell added, "There are sanctions that were imposed by Congress. I
think the administration will have a hard time getting those
removed. This is a policy that there is substantial opposition to in
Congress."

Last December, Obama announced he would use his executive powers to move
toward more normal relations with Cuba after a five-decade standoff.

Those steps have included establishing diplomatic relations, an
expansion of some travel from the United States to Cuba, increasing the
limit on remittances to Cuban nationals from those living in the United
States and expanding some trade in goods and services.

But it would be up to Congress to allow normal travel and full trade.

Republicans control both the Senate and House of Representatives. Many
Republican oppose Obama's moves toward better relations with Cuba,
claiming they only bolster Cuba's communist leaders. Republicans also
fear alienating Cuban Americans in Florida who have fled the island
nation and are supporters of the Republican Party.

Obama charted a new U.S. path toward Cuba with the support of some
Republicans, including freshman Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona.

Obama said in March his moves were already paying dividends, saying that
since December the Cuban government had begun discussing ways to
reorganize its economy.

McConnell has been a consistent critic of Obama on a range of foreign
policy fronts, including Cuba and U.S. participation in multilateral
nuclear talks with Iran.

"This president has been involved in ... talking to a lot of countries:
talk, talk, talk. And Cuba is a good example. He thinks that simply by
engaging with them we get a positive result," McConnell said, adding, "I
don't see any indication that Cubans are going to change their behavior."

Human rights advocates have admonished Cuba for abuses, including
arbitrary imprisonment of political opponents, and Cuba's tight control
of its economy also has been a lightning rod for criticism.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Source: Senate leader says Congress will block some Obama moves on Cuba
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