Hillary Clinton admits to past U.S. errors vis-a-vis Cuba

Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Apr.18 (ANI): US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has candidly admitted to the United States having failed in trying to build its ties with Cuba, and suggested that the Obama administration will attempt to change the uncompromising policy of the previous Bush administration.

"We are continuing to look for productive ways forward, because we view the present policy as having failed," the New York Times quoted Clinton as saying at a news conference here on Friday, hours before flying to join Mr. Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Clinton told audiences that the United States must accept its responsibility as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In Indonesia, she said the American-backed policy of sanctions against Myanmar had not been effective. And in the Middle East, she pointed out that ostracizing the Iranian government had not persuaded it to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández hailed Clinton and Obama, for their view on Cuban policy, which he said took "great courage" and could utterly transform the political landscape of Latin America.

"President Obama is paving a new road. It is recognition of the fact that previous policies have failed. Fifty years of a policy that has not generated the originally sought purposes can be called a failure," Fernandez said. (ANI)