Senator Corker: Congress won't end Cuba embargo under ObamaWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Wednesday he did not expect Congress to lift the half-century-long embargo against Cuba this year but it could happen under a new president, if there are changes in Havana. President Barack Obama has been moving quickly toward more normal relations with Havana in the past 14 months but the crippling trade embargo is one of the remaining major obstacles. “It’s not going to happen this year but I think it’s something that could happen as we move into a new president(‘s administration),” Republican Senator Bob Corker told journalists at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. “If Cuba were to evolve its behavior and people were able to see results from what’s happening with the executive order changes that are occurring, then I think it’s possible,” he said. Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced in December 2014 that they would normalize relations after decades of hostility. Those changes have been strongly opposed by many congressional Republicans, who say Cuba needs to do more to improve human rights before trade is eased. Obama, a Democrat, has used his executive powers to ease restrictions on travel and trade. His administration just announced that next month Obama would become the first U.S. president to visit Havana since 1928. But the U.S. trade embargo, imposed on the communist-ruled nation in 1960, cannot be lifted without congressional approval. Republicans control Congress and although several agree with the overwhelming majority of Democrats who want the embargo ended, the party’s congressional leaders are strongly opposed. Corker has not taken a position but has noted in the past that the embargo has not changed Cuban policy. The politics are more complicated because two Cuban-American senators vying for the Republican presidential nomination, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, are vocal opponents of Obama’s policy and party leaders are unlikely to come out against them during the campaign. Corker said things are already changing, although Havana still needs to change. “To me it appears that things are gradually moving along. We have air flights that are now going in, and it seems to me that this is going to be a year where those things take hold,” Corker said. “Obviously there’s still tremendous human rights abuses that are taking place in Cuba,” he said. politicsNews
senator corner congress wo end cuba embargo obamawashington reuters the chairman senate foreign relations committee said wednesday expect congress lift embargo cuba year could happen new president changes having president barack obama moving quickly toward normal relations having past months crippling trade embargo one remaining major obstacles it going happen year i think something could happen move new president administration republican senator bob corner told journalists breakfast sponsored christian science monitor if cuba evolve behavior people able see results happening executive order changes occurring i think possible said obama cuban president raul castro announced december would normalize relations decades hostility those changes strongly opposed many congressional republicans say cuba needs improve human rights trade eased obama democrat used executive powers ease restrictions travel trade his administration announced next month obama would become first president visit having since but trade embargo imposed nation lifted without congressional approval republicans control congress although several agree overwhelming majority democrats want embargo ended party congressional leaders strongly opposed corner taken position noted past embargo changed cuban policy the politics complicated two senators vying republican presidential nomination marco rubio ted cruz vocal opponents obama policy party leaders unlikely come campaign corner said things already changing although having still needs change to appears things gradually moving along we air flights going seems going year things take hold corner said obviously still tremendous human rights abuses taking place cuba said 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 Corker: Congress won't end Cuba embargo under ObamaWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Wednesday he did not expect Congress to lift the half-century-long embargo against Cuba this year but it could happen under a new president, if there are changes in Havana. President Barack Obama has been moving quickly toward more normal relations with Havana in the past 14 months but the crippling trade embargo is one of the remaining major obstacles. “It’s not going to happen this year but I think it’s something that could happen as we move into a new president(‘s administration),” Republican Senator Bob Corker told journalists at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. “If Cuba were to evolve its behavior and people were able to see results from what’s happening with the executive order changes that are occurring, then I think it’s possible,” he said. Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced in December 2014 that they would normalize relations after decades of hostility. Those changes have been strongly opposed by many congressional Republicans, who say Cuba needs to do more to improve human rights before trade is eased. Obama, a Democrat, has used his executive powers to ease restrictions on travel and trade. His administration just announced that next month Obama would become the first U.S. president to visit Havana since 1928. But the U.S. trade embargo, imposed on the communist-ruled nation in 1960, cannot be lifted without congressional approval. Republicans control Congress and although several agree with the overwhelming majority of Democrats who want the embargo ended, the party’s congressional leaders are strongly opposed. Corker has not taken a position but has noted in the past that the embargo has not changed Cuban policy. The politics are more complicated because two Cuban-American senators vying for the Republican presidential nomination, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, are vocal opponents of Obama’s policy and party leaders are unlikely to come out against them during the campaign. Corker said things are already changing, although Havana still needs to change. “To me it appears that things are gradually moving along. We have air flights that are now going in, and it seems to me that this is going to be a year where those things take hold,” Corker said. “Obviously there’s still tremendous human rights abuses that are taking place in Cuba,” he said. 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 corner congress wo end cuba embargo obamawashington reuters the chairman senate foreign relations committee said wednesday expect congress lift embargo cuba year could happen new president changes having president barack obama moving quickly toward normal relations having past months crippling trade embargo one remaining major obstacles it going happen year i think something could happen move new president administration republican senator bob corner told journalists breakfast sponsored christian science monitor if cuba evolve behavior people able see results happening executive order changes occurring i think possible said obama cuban president raul castro announced december would normalize relations decades hostility those changes strongly opposed many congressional republicans say cuba needs improve human rights trade eased obama democrat used executive powers ease restrictions travel trade his administration announced next month obama would become first president visit having since but trade embargo imposed nation lifted without congressional approval republicans control congress although several agree overwhelming majority democrats want embargo ended party congressional leaders strongly opposed corner taken position noted past embargo changed cuban policy the politics complicated two senators vying republican presidential nomination marco rubio ted cruz vocal opponents obama policy party leaders unlikely come campaign corner said things already changing although having still needs change to appears things gradually moving along we air flights going seems going year things take hold corner said obviously still tremendous human rights abuses taking place cuba said politicsnews