US spends big on anti-Havana activities: Cuba

HAVANA - The United States government earmarked some $205 million between 1996 and 2011 in a bid to topple the Cuban government, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

In an online statement, the ministry said the US continued to fund schemes designed to bring down the government and undermine the socialist system, but masked the operations as pro-democracy.

These programs were carried out by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Department of State over the last eight years from former US President George W. Bush's second term to Obama's first term, according to the statement.

The ministry noted that the fund does not include the $30 million that Washington annually spends on "a failed policy at the expense of US taxpayers," referring to a secret budget that finances the illegal broadcasting like Radio Marti and TV Marti in Cuba, and intelligence operations in support of anti-Cuban activists.

The money should "be better used in building a respectful relationship between the two countries," the ministry said.

Cuba said that during Obama's administration, the Washington-led economic embargo against Havana has become even more severe.

Since assuming office in 2008, Cuban leader Raul Castro has on several occasions offered to have dialogue with the US, but was ignored by Washington.