Cuba to Be Struck Off 'State Sponsors Of Terrorism' List

Washington's State Department is expected to recommend that Cuba should be removed from the government's list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, said a US official. Embassies in both Cuba and Washington have not been settled for years due to the misconception of Cuba.

"Our expectation" is that Cuba will be removed from the list, an official said. The announcement from the Obama administration, though, is still awaited, according to cnn.

Obama ordered the review after he announced that there would be a diplomatic breakthrough with Havana on December 17. He has decided to act quickly after receiving the recommendation, which would help to end five decades of a cold war between them.

In the April 10-11 Summit of the Americas, Obama is likely to face his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, according to reuters.

The designation has been Cuba's main objection in its dialogue with the US officials. If the State Department makes the recommendation, the Secretary of State John Kerry would pass it along to President Barack Obama, who will also act fast on the issue.

Once the recommendation is accepted, Congress would decide in 45 days, whether or not to override the President's ruling. However, lawmakers would need a veto-proof majority for that.

Obama is most probably likely to take forward the discussions with Cuban President Raul Castro during the Summit of the Americas.

However, officials decline to come to any conclusions. "It's premature to speculate," a White House official said. "The recommendation has not been received by the president."

The terrorism list includes Iran, Sudan, and Syria. In 2008, President George W. Bush's administration removed North Korea from the list. "They are much worse than Cuba," the official said of the North Koreans.

But regarding Cuba, many people called it a "relic." Moreover, the US official pointed out that the administration is worried about Cuba's human rights record.

"There's a lot of things we don't like," the official added.

Will the Republicans in Congress block the White House over the designation issue or not is still not clear.

Democratic Representative, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said: "I don't think that will be the battle the opposition picks. All of the evidence indicates that Cuba should not be on that list."