Cuba to discuss detente, "subversive" plots with U.S.

Cuba said on Wednesday it will complain about continued U.S. efforts to weaken its government even as the two countries continue to normalize ties.

Delegations from both countries are to gather in Washington on Friday as part of the fourth meeting of the Cuba-U.S. Bilateral Commission, Gustavo Machin, deputy director for U.S. affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, told reporters at a press conference.

The commission aims to review the progress made in the past four months in reestablishing ties after more than half a century.

Machin said while measures taken by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama have been "positive," they are "limited and insufficient," especially regarding the trade embargo.

"Our country will reiterate our demand for the complete lifting of the economic blockade and the return of the territory illegally occupied by the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo," he said.

Obama should use his executive powers to further "dismantle" the embargo imposed on Cuba more than 50 years ago, said Machin.

"If the president allowed investment in telecommunications by executive decree, why can't he authorize investment in other areas?" asked Machin.

Havana will also complain to Washington about ongoing "subversive" plots designed to topple Cuba's socialist government.

Programs such as World Learning scholarships, purport to offer young Cubans summer courses in civic leadership skills, but are actually designed to sow discontent and promote regime change, Cuba claims.

"We condemn the U.S. embassy promoting these types of programs without the consent of our government," Machin said.

Thousands of Cuban students have rejected the scholarship program as a covert strategy to influence Cuban youth to serve Washington's interests.

Machin welcomed Obama's nomination on Tuesday of career diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba since diplomatic ties were restored in July 2015.

DeLaurentis has served as chief of the U.S. mission in Havana since 2014.

However, the nomination must be approved by the Republican-controlled Senate.

The fourth bilateral commission will be led by Machin's boss Josefina Vidal, director for U.S. affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, and Mari Carmen Aponte, acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.