Guantanamo belongs to Cuba: Bolivia president

By Senabri Silvestre

SANTO DOMINGO, Dom. Rep. (AA) – Bolivian President Evo Morales said Saturday that Guantanamo Bay will be returned to Cuba when the United States has an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist president.

Rather than internationally isolate Cuba for more than half a century, Morales took to social media to say that an economic embargo by the U.S. has instead isolated itself from the world.

Besides the return of Guantanamo Bay to Cuba, where the U.S. has had a naval base since 1902, Morales pointed out that there are others geographical issues pending that need to be resolve in the Americas region.

Among of them is the demand for his landlocked country to regain access to the sea through Chile and the long standing territorial dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom for Marvinas Islands, or the Falkland islands.

"Sea for Bolivia, Marvinas for Argentina and Guantánamo for Cuba", he posted on Twitter.

Morales expressed his opinions prior to the end of a two-day official visit to Cuba, where the two countries expanded economic ties.

Upon his arrival to the Caribbean country on Friday, Morales received from his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, the José Martí Order --the highest honor granted by the Cuban Council of State.

"Cuba has always been an inspiration for the struggle of our peoples. Their heritage, health and education, are a model for peoples of the world," Morales said after receiving the award medal.

Morales and Castro discussed the integration processes in Latin America, the consolidation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC, regional group and other topics of international concern.

Both leaders signed an agreement to promote and develop programs for increasing the collaboration between the two countries in areas of health, education and culture.

Prior to his departing Cuba, Morales met with former President Fidel Castro to discuss U.S. efforts to reverse political and social movements in Latin America.

They also talked about the role played by the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and former Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez, according to the local television.