CCTV9英语新闻：Untying the knots in Cuba-US ties（在线收听）

Bilateral ties between Cuba and the US have improved a lot since the normalization process started in December 2014. But experts say due to historical reasons, there are still some sticky issues between the two.

The biggest obstacle in bilateral ties is the US's comprehensive embargo against Cuba. US sanctions against Cuba date back to the 1960s. Over more than half a century, despite objections from the international community, the US has stuck to the policy, which has lead to colossal economic losses for Cuba. Cuba has reiterated that the US must fully remove the blockade and all sanctions. They say this is a precondition for the normalization of ties. In the US, the removal requires Congressional approval. But Republicans, who have control over the two houses, remain suspicious and sceptical of better ties.

Another sticking point is that the US refuses to return Guantanamo Base. It began renting Guantanamo Bay in 1903, and set up a military base there. Cuban authorities, after the Communist victory in 1959, opposed the existence of the military base, rejected the rent, and demanded the US military's withdrawal. The US established a prison there in January 2002, to house terrorism suspects after 9-11. The prison is criticized for frequent cases of prisoner abuse. US President Barack Obama has promised to close the prison since his inauguration. However, due to Congressional resistance, the prison remains operational. Cuba has listed the return of Guantanamo Bay as a must in the normalization of ties. But the US continues to refuse.