Cuba calls for end to trade embargo

Cuban leader Raul Castro Saturday affirmed Cuba's socialist convictions, while calling for an end to the U.S. trade embargo.

In a historic address at the seventh Summit of the Americas, being held in Panama City, Castro said despite the economic difficulties of living under the embargo, "our patriotic convictions have prevailed. The aggression increased our resistance and accelerated the revolutionary process. Here we are with our heads held high and our dignity intact."

Castro started his speech with a humorous allusion to the fact that Cuba was for years not invited to the hemispheric gathering due to its severed ties with Washington.

"They tell me I have eight minutes. But since they owe me six summits, six times eight is 48," he said smiling to applause from the mainly Latin American leaders in attendance.

Castro welcomed the recent thawing in relations between Cuba and the United States, while at the same time acknowledging the existence of "profound differences" between them.

"I have said it before and I will say it again now to President Barack Obama, we are disposed to respectful dialogue and civil coexistence between the two states, despite our profound differences."

"I appreciate as a positive step his recent statement that he will quickly make a decision on Cuba's inclusion on a list of countries that sponsor terrorism, and on which it should never have been included," Castro added.

The Cuban leader said the economic embargo continues despite the process of diplomatic reconciliation that officially began in December, and called for an end to the policy, which has crippled the island's economy for more than 50 years.

"We have publicly expressed to President Obama -- who was born during the era of the embargo against Cuba and who inherited the policy of 10 presidents when he was elected -- our recognition of his brave decision to get involved in a debate with his country's congress on ending the embargo. This and other factors must be resolved as part of the process towards normalizing bilateral relations," said Castro.

Cuba, said Castro, will continue its program to modernize its economic model "with the objective of perfecting our socialism, and making progress towards the development and consolidation of the achievements of the revolution, whose objective is justice."

Despite "scarcity and difficulty," Cuba has succeeded in cooperating with other countries in the field of healthcare and education, by sending its skilled and educated labor force overseas, said Castro.

"If with very little resources, Cuba can, then what couldn't the hemisphere achieve by joining forces and political will to contribute to the neediest countries?" Castro asked.