WASHINGTON, September 14 (RIA Novosti) - The United States has extended the trade embargo on Cuba by one year again, the White House said in a statement Monday.

President Barack Obama said in a memorandum to the state and treasury secretaries that "the continuation for one year of the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of the United States."

The extension is technical and has taken place since 1961. Even if Obama had not signed the order extending the embargo under the Trading With the Enemy Act, the sanctions would have remained as a result of the Helms-Burton Act passed in 1996 that requires special action from Congress to end them.

Obama has repeatedly voiced the intention to improve relations with Cuba. In early April the U.S. canceled restrictions on money transfers to U.S. nationals' Cuban relatives.

The UN General Assembly has adopted resolutions demanding that the U.S. sanctions be lifted since 1992. Havana regards the American embargo as genocide of the Cuban nation.