Cuba and Secretary State John Kerry

Secretary State John Kerry: It also wipes out an international stigma which Havana - on the blacklist since 1982 - has long contended was groundless and unfair, according to Nine News Australia. US President Barack Obama had notified Congress earlier this year that he intended to remove Havana from the list, giving lawmakers 45 days to object, which elapsed on Friday. The decision means Cuba will now have better access to US banking facilities and American aid, and a ban on arms exports and sales is also lifted. Now Secretary of State John Kerry "has made the final decision to rescind Cuba designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, effective today, May 29, 2015," the State Department said in a statement."The rescission of Cuba designation as a state sponsor of terrorism reflects our assessment that Cuba meets the statutory criteria for rescission," the statement said."While the United States has significant concerns and disagreements with a wide range of Cuba policies and actions, these fall outside the criteria relevant to the rescission of a state sponsor of terrorism designation."Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in December to restore relations that have languished in the doldrums since 1961. But regular tourism remains off-limits. Obama has already made it easier for 12 categories of Americans to visit the communist island, no longer requiring them to apply for a licence before travelling. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.