Cuba Says Adios to Peksy State Sponsor of Terrorism Label

President Obama and Cuba’s Raul Castro, l. in Panama on April 11, 2015.

News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Mon. June 1, 2015: Cuba has finally said adios to that pesky State Sponsor of Terrorism label, thanks to U.S. President Barack Obama.

The State Department in April has recommended Obama drop Cuba from the list and on Friday, the U.S. State Department announced that it made the final decision to rescind the title as of May 29, 2015.

“The rescission of Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism reflects our assessment that Cuba meets the statutory criteria for rescission,” the State Department said. “While the United States has significant concerns and disagreements with a wide range of Cuba’s policies and actions, these fall outside the criteria relevant to the rescission of a State Sponsor of Terrorism designation.”

A U.S. Embassy in Havana could reopen soon.

Still Americans are not permitted to travel to Cuba for touristic purposes. Americans traveling to Cuba must qualify for a general or specific license pursuant to one of the 12 categories of authorized travel as set forth in the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s regulations. Once it has been determined that you qualify, an entry visa must be obtained from Cuban authorities. Americans who are authorized to travel to Cuba, are permitted to import up to $100 in alcohol or tobacco products as accompanied baggage upon their return to the United States.