U.S. senator pledges to block efforts to normalize Cuba relations
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Senator Marco Rubio vowed on Wednesday (December 17) to block moves by President Barack Obama toward normalizing relations with the Cuban government.
"I anticipate I'll be the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of Foreign Relations, and I anticipate we're going to have a very interesting couple of years discussing how you're going to get an ambassador nominated and how you're going to get an embassy funded," Rubio, a Florida Republican senator who is Cuban-American, told reporters at a news conference.
"The White House has conceded everything, and gained little," he added. "They gained no commitment on the part of the Cuban regime to freedom of press, or freedom of speech, or elections. No binding commitment was made to truly open up the internet. No commitment was made to allowing the establishment of political parties or to even begin the semblance of a transition to democracy."
Earlier, President Barack Obama sai
Senator Marco Rubio vowed on Wednesday (December 17) to block moves by President Barack Obama toward normalizing relations with the Cuban government.
"I anticipate I'll be the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of Foreign Relations, and I anticipate we're going to have a very interesting couple of years discussing how you're going to get an ambassador nominated and how you're going to get an embassy funded," Rubio, a Florida Republican senator who is Cuban-American, told reporters at a news conference.
"The White House has conceded everything, and gained little," he added. "They gained no commitment on the part of the Cuban regime to freedom of press, or freedom of speech, or elections. No binding commitment was made to truly open up the internet. No commitment was made to allowing the establishment of political parties or to even begin the semblance of a transition to democracy."
Earlier, President Barack Obama sai