Former American prisoner calls on Congress to lift Cuba embargo

Alan Phillip Gross, a former American prisoner in Cuba, has urged the US Congress to lift bans on the Caribbean island nation following a historic thaw in bilateral ties.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington on Tuesday, Gross who was released after five years in December 2014, said Cuba's economy was "fractured" and Havana needed to turn to trade to improve the country's situation.

Gross backed the Obama administration's move to help ease economic restrictions but lamented US lawmakers' inaction to lift sanctions on Cuba.

"Without question, for Cuba, export will be the engine of future economic growth. It must be so that it can generate hard currency revenues in order to import critical products such as food and medicine which are exempted from the embargo," he said. "The embargo can only be lifted by Congress and Congress is going to need to step up to the plate."

Referring to Obama's planned visit on March 20, Gross said, "He's not going just to see a baseball game... He'll meet with President Raul Castro."

Not enough is being done to help Cubans or to increase their incomes or technological connectivity, but that is an economic issue that Cuba and its people need to resolve, Gross said.

Gross had been incarcerated since 2009 over alleged espionage activities.

"I never wanted to interfere with the government of Cuba, believe it or not. I don't think anybody should interfere with the internal politics of any country, and this is an internal situation."

His remarks came shortly after Washington announced it would allow Americans to travel to Cuba more easily and without having to go in organized group tours for educational, cultural and other authorized purposes .

Cubans will also be able to open US bank accounts, and those who live in the US can earn a salary or compensation.

The newly amended sanctions regulations, however, fall short of ending the embargo which has been in place for more than 55 years

The US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 and placed an official embargo against the country in 1962.

On December 17, 2014, US President Barack Obama announced that the US would start talks with Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in American foreign policy towards the country in over 50 years.

On April 11, 2015, Obama and Castro held unprecedented face-to-face talks in Panama to mark the first sit-down between the leaders of the two countries since 1956.

Obama is scheduled to travel to the Caribbean island on March 20, making him the first sitting US president to visit the island nation in 88 years.

The two countries have reopened embassies in Washington and Havana, and restored commercial air travel.

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