Cuba removed from U.S. terror list

May 29, 2015 at 11:09 a.m.

by The Associated Press

A group of American tourists on a guided tour visit Old Havana, Cuba, on Sunday, May 24, 2015. The Thaw in relations between the U.S. and Cuba has led to a dramatic 36 percent increase in visits by Americans to Cuba since January compared with the same period last year, along with a 14 percent rise in arrivals from around the world.
A group of American tourists on a guided tour visit Old Havana, Cuba, on Sunday, May 24, 2015. The Thaw in relations between the U.S. and Cuba has led to a dramatic 36 percent increase in visits by Americans to Cuba since January compared with the same period last year, along with a 14 percent rise in arrivals from around the world.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Friday formally removed Cuba from a U.S. terrorism blacklist as part of the process of normalizing relations between the Cold War foes.

Secretary of State John Kerry signed off on rescinding Cuba's "state sponsor of terrorism" designation exactly 45 days after the Obama administration informed Congress of its intent to do so on April 14. Lawmakers had that amount of time to weigh in and try to block the move, but did not do so.

"The 45-day congressional pre-notification period has expired, and the secretary of state has made the final decision to rescind Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, effective today, May 29, 2015," the State Department said in a statement.

Read Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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