New US sanctions will not make Cuba change its policies

New restrictive measures against Cuba announced by US National Security Advisor John Bolton will not make Havana give up its policies on the international arena, the Cuban Foreign Ministry's Director General for US Affairs Carlos Fernandez de Cassio told reporters on Friday.

"The measures announced by the US will not prevent us from continuing to build a prosperous socialist and democratic society in accordance with the will of the Cuban people. They will not change our country's obligations of solidarity to other peoples but will harm the people of Cuba, Cubans living abroad and those who wants constructive relations between the two countries," Fernandez de Cassio said. "Cuba will continue defending its sovereign right to choose its own political system and its future. We will still hold the position of dilaogue with the US, just like with the rest of the world," he added.

The Cuban official said that US rhetoric and aggressive actions may be linked to ongoing political processes ahead of the mideterm elections, and are aimed at getting dividends for the Republican Party.

On Thursday US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Washington will expand sanctions against Cuba in the next several days. The US severed diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 when US property on the island was nationalized. After that, Washington imposed a trade and economic embargo on Cuba.