Cuba, US Delegations Tackle Bilateral Negotiations in Havana

Representatives of Cuba and the United States met in Havana this Monday as part of bilateral negotiations to reestablish bilateral diplomatic relations.

Just two weeks after the latest round of talks, which took place in Washington D.C., the delegations held talks in the Cuban capital presided by the General Director for the United States at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, Josefina Vidal and by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta Jacobson.
Despite deep differences, the governments of Cuba and the United States have expressed their willingness to keep advancing the process to reestablish diplomatic relations and collaborate in issues of mutual interest.

Thus far, the two round of talks held in Havana, January 22, and in Washington, February 27, marked important moments on the road to materialize the political decision announced on December 17 by presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama.

Both delegations have identified opportunities for join work in areas of common interest with the aim of developing cooperation that benefits the two countries, the region and the world.

In this regards, they announced technical meetings on new issues, such as telecommunications, the protection of marine areas, human rights, the expansion of air services between the two countries.

The Cuban side has reiterated the importance to deal with some problems in order to pave the way for the appropriate scenario that allows the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, such as the withdrawal of Cuba from the US list of countries sponsors of international terrorism and the need to reestablish financial services for the Cuban Interest Section in Washington.

On Monday, the two parties addressed issues related to the reestablishment of diplomatic relations in tune with an accord announced during the second round of talks in Washington.