At UN, Cuba moderately conciliatory toward US; wants to hold talks on drugs, people smuggling

Cuba moderately conciliatory toward US at UN

UNITED NATIONS — Cuba is adopting a moderately conciliatory tone toward the U.S. at the United Nations General Assembly.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez says his country wants to normalize relations and work with the Americans to fight drug and people smuggling, protect the environment and cope with natural disasters.

He said Monday that Cuba has approached the American government with “a set of essential topics” toward improving bilateral ties.

Those include doing away with the U.S. trade embargo and the so-called “wet-foot, dry-foot” immigration policy which allows Cubans who reach U.S. soil to stay while deporting those captured en route.

He also said the island was still waiting to see if international optimism about the Obama administration is really warranted.