US ready to assist Cuba with transformations, top diplomat says

The United States is ready to assist Cuba in carrying out major transformations if Havana is open to such efforts, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

“I really believe that Cuba has a great opportunity to embark on a path to a better future, and we are ready to assist it in this if it is open to it,” Rubio said at a press conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to Rubio, the situation in Cuba will not change without major changes. At the same time, he said Washington would prefer to pursue such changes through negotiations and political means, without the use of military force.

Rubio also said the United States would be unable to work with some members of the Cuban leadership.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said on September 7 that Havana intended to maintain contacts with US authorities despite a lack of progress in negotiations. He attributed the absence of progress to what he described as “the lack of political will on the part of the United States,” while stressing that Cuba remained ready for negotiations.

On September 22, US President Donald Trump said his administration was seeking to fundamentally change the situation in Cuba. He also referred to negotiations with Havana led by Rubio and said the United States would not allow Cuban territory to be used to threaten Washington.

By Vafa Guliyeva