Obama nominates first US envoy to Cuba in over 50 yrs
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated Jeffrey DeLaurentis as the first US Ambassador to Cuba in over 50 years, reports IANS.
"Today, I am proud to nominate Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first US Ambassador to Cuba in more than 50 years," Xinhua news agency quoted Obama as saying in a news release issued by the White House.
Obama praised DeLaurentis' vital "leadership" throughout the normalisation of relations between the US and Cuba, which were two former rivals.
"There is no public servant better suited to improve our ability to engage the Cuban people and advance US interests in Cuba than Jeff," Obama said.
The President described DeLaurentis, a career diplomat, as having "extensive experience in Cuba and Latin America". DeLaurentis has been working with Cuba on issues that advance US national interests, such as law enforcement, counternarcotics, environmental protection, combating trafficking in persons, expanding commercial and agricultural opportunities, and cooperation in science and health, Obama said.
"Having an ambassador will make it easier to advocate for our interests, and will deepen our understanding even when we know that we will continue to have differences with the Cuban government," Obama said.