Japan Welcomes Normalization of US-Cuba Relations: Deputy Secretary

The Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary welcomed the reestablishment of bilateral relations between the United States and Cuba.

TOKYO, December 18 (Sputnik) — Japan welcomes the steps made towards the normalization of bilateral relations between the United States and Cuba, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato stated Thursday.

"Japan welcomes [decision of the two countries to normalize relations], because improving relations of the United States with its neighbors contribute to the stability of the whole region. This is a big shift in the policy, and we will closely monitor the situation," Kato said at a press conference in Tokyo.

The deputy chief cabinet secretary also said he did not expect any significant impact on Japan in the near future due to the decision of the two countries.

On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama announced that the United States is to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than 50 years. On the same day, Cuban leader Raul Castro confirmed that his country and the United States had agreed to restore diplomatic relations, but noted that it was too early to speak about the end of the economic sanctions implemented against the island.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated, following the Cuban revolution of 1959, with the United States introducing an embargo on nearly all imports from Cuba and pushing for democratic reforms in the island country.