U.S. senator: 'Unlikely' Cuba ambassador will be approved this yearWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees the confirmation of foreign service nominees, said on Wednesday it was “highly unlikely” that an ambassador to Cuba would be approved this year. President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated career diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba in more than five decades. “The committee was notified of the nomination yesterday but has not yet received the appropriate paperwork to begin its work,” Republican Senator Bob Corker said in a statement emailed to Reuters. “However, it is highly unlikely that an ambassador to Cuba would be approved in the lame-duck.” The appointment of DeLaurentis, the top American official at the U.S. embassy in Havana, marked Obama’s latest move to go as far as he can in normalizing ties between the former Cold War foes before he leaves office in January. But the nomination must be approved by the Republican-controlled Senate, which is seen as a long shot. Corker’s committee would have to hold a confirmation hearing for DeLaurentis and vote to approve his nomination before it would go to the full Senate, where it could be blocked by any senator. Many lawmakers have warmly embraced Obama’s moves toward more normal relations with Cuba, which became public in a shock announcement in December 2014. But several strongly oppose his efforts, arguing that Cuba must do far more to improve human rights before it can deal normally with the United States. Cuban-American senators such as Republicans Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and Democrat Robert Menendez are particularly opposed to Obama’s policy. Rubio and Menendez are both members of the foreign relations panel. Congress’ “lame-duck” session takes place in November and December, after the elections on Nov. 8 and before the new Congress comes to Washington in January. politicsNews
senator cuba ambassador approved yearwashington reuters the chairman senate foreign relations committee oversees confirmation foreign service nominees said wednesday highly unlikely ambassador cuba would approved year president barack obama tuesday nominated career diplomat jeffrey delaurentis first ambassador cuba five decades the committee notified nomination yesterday yet received appropriate paperwork begin work republican senator bob corner said statement emailed reuters however highly unlikely ambassador cuba would approved the appointment delaurentis top american official embassy having marked obama latest move go far normalizing ties former cold war foes leaves office january but nomination must approved senate seen long shot corner committee would hold confirmation hearing delaurentis vote approve nomination would go full senate could blocked senator many lawmakers warmly embraced obama moves toward normal relations cuba became public shock announcement december but several strongly oppose efforts arguing cuba must far improve human rights deal normally united states senators republicans marco rubio ted cruz democrat robert menendez particularly opposed obama policy rubio menendez members foreign relations panel congress session takes place november december elections new congress comes washington january politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: U.S. senator: 'Unlikely' Cuba ambassador will be approved this yearWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees the confirmation of foreign service nominees, said on Wednesday it was “highly unlikely” that an ambassador to Cuba would be approved this year. President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated career diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba in more than five decades. “The committee was notified of the nomination yesterday but has not yet received the appropriate paperwork to begin its work,” Republican Senator Bob Corker said in a statement emailed to Reuters. “However, it is highly unlikely that an ambassador to Cuba would be approved in the lame-duck.” The appointment of DeLaurentis, the top American official at the U.S. embassy in Havana, marked Obama’s latest move to go as far as he can in normalizing ties between the former Cold War foes before he leaves office in January. But the nomination must be approved by the Republican-controlled Senate, which is seen as a long shot. Corker’s committee would have to hold a confirmation hearing for DeLaurentis and vote to approve his nomination before it would go to the full Senate, where it could be blocked by any senator. Many lawmakers have warmly embraced Obama’s moves toward more normal relations with Cuba, which became public in a shock announcement in December 2014. But several strongly oppose his efforts, arguing that Cuba must do far more to improve human rights before it can deal normally with the United States. Cuban-American senators such as Republicans Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and Democrat Robert Menendez are particularly opposed to Obama’s policy. Rubio and Menendez are both members of the foreign relations panel. Congress’ “lame-duck” session takes place in November and December, after the elections on Nov. 8 and before the new Congress comes to Washington in January. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: senator cuba ambassador approved yearwashington reuters the chairman senate foreign relations committee oversees confirmation foreign service nominees said wednesday highly unlikely ambassador cuba would approved year president barack obama tuesday nominated career diplomat jeffrey delaurentis first ambassador cuba five decades the committee notified nomination yesterday yet received appropriate paperwork begin work republican senator bob corner said statement emailed reuters however highly unlikely ambassador cuba would approved the appointment delaurentis top american official embassy having marked obama latest move go far normalizing ties former cold war foes leaves office january but nomination must approved senate seen long shot corner committee would hold confirmation hearing delaurentis vote approve nomination would go full senate could blocked senator many lawmakers warmly embraced obama moves toward normal relations cuba became public shock announcement december but several strongly oppose efforts arguing cuba must far improve human rights deal normally united states senators republicans marco rubio ted cruz democrat robert menendez particularly opposed obama policy rubio menendez members foreign relations panel congress session takes place november december elections new congress comes washington january politicsnews