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Raul Castro calls for historic 'forging of new relationship' with United States

By Andrew V. Pestano
Cuban President Raul Castro and President Barack Obama greeted for the first time at the 7th Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama, on April 11, 2015, in a historic meeting between the two heads of state. File Photo by The White House
Cuban President Raul Castro and President Barack Obama greeted for the first time at the 7th Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama, on April 11, 2015, in a historic meeting between the two heads of state. File Photo by The White House

HAVANA, July 16 (UPI) -- Cuban President Raul Castro said his country must establish a new relationship with the United States, urging for an end to the embargo, in an address to his parliament.

The United States and Cuba are set to formally reestablish diplomatic ties on Monday as embassies are scheduled to open at each country's respective capitals, Washington D.C. and Havana.

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It is the first time Castro publicly commented on the matter since both governments announced full diplomatic reinstatement. Castro spoke at the Cuban National Assembly's Fifth Period of Ordinary Sessions on Wednesday.

"We are talking about forging a new kind of relationship between both states, different from our entire common history," Castro said.

He called for the U.S. embargo on Cuba to be lifted as to restore normal diplomatic ties and for the U.S. naval base Guantanamo Bay to be returned to Cuba.

U.S. officials have previously stated Guantanamo Bay is not currently up for discussion.

Castro also announced a 4.7 percent increase in gross domestic product for the year up until the end of June. The growth is expected to remain about the same for the remainder of the year.

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"This is very good, considering that last year we only grew by one percent," he noted, adding that a growing number of more than half a million Cubans are now self-employed.

In the address, Castro also extended his solidarity to Venezuela's government, led by President Nicolas Maduro, "against attempts at destabilization and any act of foreign interference" and to Ecuador's government, led by President Rafael Correa.

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