Havana, December 18 (RHC)-- Cuban President Raul Castro issued a statement on Friday in which he reviewed the state of affairs one year after the announcement by Cuba and the United States that they would work towards a normalization of relations.

Raul Castro said some results have been achieved, especially in the political field, but he stressed that no advancement had taken place in the solution of issues which are essential for Cuba in the normalization with the US. He noted that in spite of President Obama's expressed determination to work towards the elimination of the blockade, that policy remains in place, including the financial persecution of Cuban transactions.

Raul Castro stressed that normalization would also entail a return of the territory occupied in eastern Cuba by the United States Guantanamo Naval Base, and said that subversive radio and TV broadcasts against Cuba must come to an end.

The Cuban head of state insisted also that a preferential migration policy continues to be applied to Cuban citizens, and mentioned the wet foot/dry foot policy, the Medical Professional Parole Program and the Cuban Adjustment Act, all of which encourage an illegal, unsafe, disorderly and irregular migration, foment human smuggling and other related crimes and create problems for other countries.

He reiterated Cuba's total readiness to continue advancing in the improvement of relations and in increased cooperation on issues of mutual interest.