Washington (CNN)The State Department is expected to recommend that Cuba be removed from the government’s list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, a U.S. official tells CNN on Tuesday, a notorious designation that has been a stumbling block in the establishment of embassies in both Havana and Washington.
Our expectation” is that Cuba will be removed from the list, the official said. But the official cautioned the Obama administration has yet to make any formal announcement. While that announcement from the State Department is not expected Tuesday, it could come as early as Wednesday.
In a conference call with reporters, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the State Department is “nearing its completion” of its review of the state sponsor of terrorism designation process. He did not rule out an announcement this week.
Cuba has raised the designation as a major objection in its talks with U.S. officials regarding normalizing relations between the two Cold War adversaries.
Once a recommendation is made by the State Department, Secretary of State John Kerry would pass that along to President Barack Obama who has said he would act quickly.
If the President, as expected, accepts the State Department’s recommendation, Congress would have 45 days to approve the decision.
The expected recommendation on state sponsor of terrorism designation comes as the President is set to attend a summit with other Latin American leaders in Panama later this week.
White House officials told reporters Tuesday Obama will likely “interact” with Cuban President Raul Castro “on the margins” of the Summit of the Americas.
Cuba is on this list along with only three other countries — Iran, Sudan, and Syria.
A U.S. official noted President George W. Bush’s administration removed North Korea from the list in 2008.
“They are much worse than Cuba,” the official said of the North Koreans.
<p”>As for Cuba’s placement on the list, the official added “most people (in the administration) feel like that’s a relic.”
