We believe that the decisions and concrete steps taken by the US and Cuba to normalise bilateral relations meet the interests of both countries and global security in general. Washington's decisions to stop groundless accusations against Havana of alleged support of terrorism, to restore diplomatic relations, to abandon at least some limits on US citizens' trips to the island and the swap of sentenced persons are long overdue.

We have repeatedly called on the United States to move forward and abandon all political prejudices of the past century. We are glad to note that the elimination of obstacles for bank transfers is going under the UN General Assembly's resolution "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," which the General Assembly adopts every year with Russia's active support. We hope for a total abolition of the US trade embargo against Cuba, which was introduced in 1961.

It is notable that the US president has acknowledged the ineffectiveness of the many-year attempts to isolate Cuba. We haope that Washington will soon realise the futility of using similar sanctions method to put pressure on other countries as well.