Cuba, US ties called first step

"I emphasize that the total lifting of the blockade, the return of the illegally occupied territory of Guantanamo, as well as the full respect for Cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages are crucial to being able to move towards the normalization of relations," Rodriguez said.

Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced on December 17 that the two countries would normalize their relationship. After more than six months of negotiations, the two governments exchanged diplomatic notes on July 1 to restore full relations on July 20.

Many pro-Cuba groups were among the cheering crowds outside the Cuban embassy on Monday morning, including members of the Code Pink, an anti-war movement organization.

Fred Mills, from the Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Committee, and other committee members were also celebrating Monday morning across the street from the Cuban embassy. He called the restoration of diplomatic ties an important first step.

"We'd like to see the end of the embargo, and like to see the closing of Guantanamo, and frankly we like to see further steps towards complete normalization of the relationship," he said.

Elizabeth Lowengard, of the US-based Party for Socialism and Liberation, described the reestablishing of diplomatic ties "a step in the right direction."

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com