Minister: U.S. blockade of Cuba is Cold War 'iceberg'

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Berlin • Cuba's foreign minister says the United States' embargo of his country is a lingering "iceberg of the Cold War" that needs to be lifted unconditionally.

Speaking after talks with his German counterpart in Berlin, Bruno Rodriguez said Tuesday that U.S. steps to loosen the decades-old blockade have been "very limited."

U.S. President Barack Obama said during his trip to Cuba in March that it was time to lift the embargo, but Congress has resisted so far.

Rodriguez voiced optimism that Cuba and the U.S. can put aside their differences in the interest of improving relations, but said progress won't happen overnight.

He also repeated Cuba's demand for the return of the Guantanamo Bay territory where the U.S. military has a base.