HAVANA — The Cuban government today criticized U.S. President Barack Obama for calling for democratic change in Cuba.

The strongly worded statement published in Communist Party newspaper Granma says “we Cubans will take care of Cuba.”

It also thanks regional leaders for demanding that Cuba be included in future Summits of the Americas, saying the region is rebelling against Washington.

Cuba’s exclusion cast a shadow over the weekend summit in Cartagena, Colombia.

The United States and Canada were alone in rejecting Cuba’s participation, saying the island nation does not meet democratic standards.

Obama suggested at the gathering that Cuba could be invited in the future if it “starts loosening up some constraints within that country.”