<p>Cuban President Raul Castro said he was ready to discuss any topic with Washington after the historic bilateral rapprochement, but warned not to expect political change.<br /><br /></p>.<p>And while the leader of the Americas' only communist nation hailed the agreement for removing of an "obstacle" in US-Cuba relations, he reiterated that "the most important thing, the end of the embargo" remained unresolved.<br /><br />Castro yesterday spoke at the close of the twice-yearly meeting of the one-party National Assembly, which unanimously ratified the deal between Havana and Washington, in a session largely focused on the island's historic renewal of ties with Washington.<br /><br />"The Cuban people cheer this correct decision of US President Barack Obama. It represents the removal of an obstacle in relations between our countries," he said.<br /><br />"We reiterate our willingness for respectful and reciprocal dialogue concerning disagreements," Castro said, adding that Cuba "accepted dialogue... on any topic about all things here but also in the United States."<br /><br />But he emphasized that his country was a "sovereign state" that would not bow to pressure to change its political or economic system.<br /><br />"In the same way that we have never suggested the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours," Castro said.<br /><br />The United States and Cuba made the breakthrough in their Cold War standoff Wednesday, launching measures to ease a five-decade US trade embargo as well as a prisoner exchange. First official talks are scheduled for January.<br /><br />Castro repeated yesterday his stance that "the most important thing, the end of the economic, trade, and financial embargo against Cuba, still needs to be resolved."<br /><br />However, most of the embargo is codified in US law, which can only be changed with congressional approval.<br /><br />That will likely prove difficult, with a number of US lawmakers, led by Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio, protesting Obama's shift in Cuba policy.</p>
<p>Cuban President Raul Castro said he was ready to discuss any topic with Washington after the historic bilateral rapprochement, but warned not to expect political change.<br /><br /></p>.<p>And while the leader of the Americas' only communist nation hailed the agreement for removing of an "obstacle" in US-Cuba relations, he reiterated that "the most important thing, the end of the embargo" remained unresolved.<br /><br />Castro yesterday spoke at the close of the twice-yearly meeting of the one-party National Assembly, which unanimously ratified the deal between Havana and Washington, in a session largely focused on the island's historic renewal of ties with Washington.<br /><br />"The Cuban people cheer this correct decision of US President Barack Obama. It represents the removal of an obstacle in relations between our countries," he said.<br /><br />"We reiterate our willingness for respectful and reciprocal dialogue concerning disagreements," Castro said, adding that Cuba "accepted dialogue... on any topic about all things here but also in the United States."<br /><br />But he emphasized that his country was a "sovereign state" that would not bow to pressure to change its political or economic system.<br /><br />"In the same way that we have never suggested the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours," Castro said.<br /><br />The United States and Cuba made the breakthrough in their Cold War standoff Wednesday, launching measures to ease a five-decade US trade embargo as well as a prisoner exchange. First official talks are scheduled for January.<br /><br />Castro repeated yesterday his stance that "the most important thing, the end of the economic, trade, and financial embargo against Cuba, still needs to be resolved."<br /><br />However, most of the embargo is codified in US law, which can only be changed with congressional approval.<br /><br />That will likely prove difficult, with a number of US lawmakers, led by Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio, protesting Obama's shift in Cuba policy.</p>