Washington, Oct. 26 : US President Barack Obama is said to have told Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Mortatinos to tell Cuban President Raul Castro that for relations between the countries to improve, Havana has to do its part to help reform and improve human rights.

According to a Fox News report, Obama is quoted as having told has learned.

"Have (Moratinos) tell the Cuban authorities we understand that change can''t happen overnight, but down the road, when we look back at this time, it should be clear that now is when those changes began," Obama told Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, according to sources.

Obama asked Moratinos to deliver the message during their meeting on October 13.

"When (Obama) learned that Foreign Minister Moratinos was about to go to Havana, he suggested that Moratinos urge the Castro regime to take steps to reform and improve human rights," a U. S. official said on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity. (ANI)