The United States removed Cuba from its list of states sponsoring terrorism Friday as the two countries are working to restore full diplomatic relations after decades of hostility.
The decision is the latest in a series of conciliatory moves the U.S. has taken after announcing in December that it would restore diplomatic ties with the Caribbean nation after more than half a century of estrangement.
"The secretary of state has made the final decision to rescind Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, effective today," Jeff Rathke, a State Department spokesman, said in a statement, adding that the decision "reflects our assessment that Cuba meets the statutory criteria for rescission."
Removal from the terror sponsor list has been a key demand from Cuba. Friday's decision is expected to give a spur to efforts to normalize diplomatic ties, including opening embassies in each other's capital and returning ambassadors.
The United States cut off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1960 after Fidel Castro took power in a coup in 1959. The U.S. also imposed a trade embargo in 1960 and put the country on the list of terror sponsors in 1982 for supporting armed groups in Latin America.
In April, U.S. President Barack Obama notified Congress of his intention to remove Cuba from the list, along with a certification that Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism during the previous six months and that Cuba has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.
Friday's announcement came after the expiration of a 45-day congressional pre-notification period.
With Cuba's removal from the list, only three countries remain on the list, Syria, Iran and Sudan. North Korea had been on the list, but the administration of former President George W. Bush removed Pyongyang from the list in 2008 in exchange for progress in denuclearization talks. (Yonhap)