Cuba condemns U.S. blockade at NAM Summit
Cuba condemned Wednesday Washington's more than 40-year blockade against the island country, saying the U.S. act is "as criminal and long as it is ridiculous."

At the opening session of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, Carlos Lage, vice-president of the Council of State of Cuba, accused the U.S. government of stepping up the blockade with the passing of new laws and condemned Washington's move to undertake "new terrorist actions" and media campaign against Cuba.

Lage said the Cuban people have to face all risks, threats, aggressions and "a blockade that is as criminal and long as it is ridiculous."

Meanwhile, Cuban Economy and Planning Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez told a press conference Tuesday that the U.S. blockade against Cuba has cost the island 86.1 billion U.S. dollars

He said the U.S. government has not been able to prevent the Caribbean country from exerting its sovereignty and independence, adding that Cuba has learned how to live with the embargo.

He said that if the blockade is lifted, the relationship between Cuba and the United States will change, saying there are possibilities of a normal relationship between the two countries on the basis of respect for Cuba's sovereignty and independence.

Cuba is hosting the 14th Summit of the NAM, a 116-member organization made up of mostly developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The total is expected to grow with the entrance of Haiti and St. Kitts and Nevis.