(VOVworld) – US President Barack Obama can use his power to remove some elements of the economic, trade, and financial embargo on Cuba, a policy that hinders the normalization of US-Cuba ties.

Cuban Foreign Ministry’s chief diplomat for US affairs Josefina Vidal (Photo: Getty Images)

Speaking to Cuba’s Prensa Latina news agency on Monday, Josefina Vidal, the Cuban Foreign Ministry’s chief diplomat for US affairs, said President Obama can loosen or change some terms of the embargo based on his power and political will. Ms. Vidal said only some points need to be approved by the US Congress, including prohibition of US citizens to operate tourism businesses in Cuba or banning Caribbean countries from having business relations with US companies in a third country. She warned that Cuba wants American diplomats to stop aiding Cuban dissidents before the two countries can reopen embassies in each other's capitals. Ms. Vidal said bilateral dialogue to normalize relations is a time-consuming and difficult process, adding that the two countries need to share more information and boost cultural exchanges.