US interferes in Cuba's internal affairs, concerned about activists

"We are deeply concerned about the latest reports of detentions and arrests by Cuban authorities of peaceful civil society members and activists," the US State Department said in a statement on Tuesday.
 
"We strongly condemn the Cuban government's continued harassment and repeated use of arbitrary detention, at times with violence, to silence critics, disrupt peaceful assembly and freedom (of) expression, and intimidate citizens," read the statement.
 
Washington also slammed Havana's "lack of respect" for "freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly," which it said are "internationally recognized human rights."
 
It called on the Cuban government to end its practice of repressing all “internationally protected freedoms” and to respect the “universal human rights of Cuban citizens.”
 
The statement came only two weeks after the Obama administration announced normalization of full diplomatic relations with Cuba, marking the most significant shift in US foreign policy towards the country in over 50 years.
 
In response to the statement, Cuba's President Raul Castro said he was ready to discuss any topic with the US but warned that he will not carry out political change.