US, Cuba to focus on re-opening Embassies

The United States and Cuba on May 21^st resumed talks at the Department of State in Washington to reopen embassies in each other’s capitals and re-establish diplomatic ties.

The delegations, led by top US diplomat for Latin America and US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta Jacobson and Cuba's Minister of Foreign Relations Director General for the US Josefina Vidal, met at the imposing State Department building in Washington.

Photo: AFP

The two countries are seeking to end a half-century of enmity and reopen embassies in each other's countries as part of moves to restore normal relations.

Both sides have expressed optimism regarding the environment that surrounds this third round of talks. It's another step forward in renewing US-Cuba ties that will make it easier for Cuba to eventually reestablish an official embassy in the US.

Currently the two countries have interests sections rather than embassies in each other's capitals. And the posted diplomats from each country are not permitted to leave the city of their respective posting.

The US and Cuba haven't had diplomatic relations since shortly after Fidel Castro seized power in 1961. Interest sections were established in the late 1970s to boost cooperation, but never really advanced a detente between the two countries. In the years since, both governments have enforced restrictions on the activity of each other's diplomats in their countries./

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