美国将古巴从支恐黑名单中去除

The removal of Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism is seen as a step toward normalizing relations between the US and Cuba.

The change of status follows a 45-day congressional review of the decision and was a prerequisite for opening a US Embassy in Havana, which is now expected to happen within weeks.

Peter Hakim, President of the private think-thank Inter-American Dialogue says the decision will have a positive spin-off effect on the United Sates volatile relationship with Latin America.

"It removed a tremendous, long-standing irritant from U.S.- Latin American relations. One has to understand that every country in the hemisphere, including Canada, every Latin American, every Caribbean country, recognized Cuba."

On the streets of Havana, the reaction was bittersweet, especially for some Cubans who had lost family members in hostilities between the two countries.

Iraida Malbert's husband was a crew member onboard an ill-fated Cuban Airlines flight that was shot down in 1976 by US backed anti-Castro militants.

She says this decision was long-overdue.

"We have dedicated our lives, some of our people, some of our family, to matters such as this one, and now that they have taken us off the list, it's being treated like a favor on the part of the United States. It's a just decision which should have been made a long time ago."

Cuba has been on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1982, alongside Syria, Sudan and Iran.

The Cold War-era designation had cut-off the island country from much of the world's financial system.

Its removal from the terror list will make it easier for Cuba to do business with the world despite the ongoing US economic embargo. But other restrictions on foreign and humanitarian aid remain in place.

There have been several rounds of negotiations between the two countries to iron out differences and pave the way to reestablishing diplomatic ties.

Washington has expressed concerns over Cuba's Human rights situation. Havana for its part has been vocal in its opposition to US-funded democracy programs on the island.

Both sides say they are making progress.

But the White House faces a tough challenge ahead.

Republicans have criticized the decision to normalize ties with Cuba, with House Speaker John Boehner saying the Obama administration had "handed the Castro regime a significant political win in return for nothing."

They have also vowed to block any nomination to the post of ambassador to Cuba.

Even though Cuba has finally been removed from the U.S. black list after 33 years, it is only a symbolic step as President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro try to revive a relationship that has been frozen for over half-a-century.

For CRI I'm Poornima Weerasekara.