Re-Opening of Embassies at Center of Cuba, US Talks

Discussions continued Friday between the Cuban and the U.S. delegations in the fourth round of talks aimed at improving relations between the two countries.

Head of U.S affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry Josefina Vidal said in a press conference that conversations between Cuba and the U.S had taken place in a respectful climate. She welcomed Obama's initiative to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, “where it never should have been.”

Vidal confirmed that talks had included discussions about movements of diplomats but was unable to offer details. She said more discussions would take place next week over the functioning of embassies, and the conduct and behaviour of ambassadors from both countries.

Vidal said the two countries had aborded technical issues such as human rights, civil aviation and also the issue of health. She said a meeting between representatives would soon take place to discuss common problems such as how to cope with infectious diseases.

Roberta Jacobson, U.S Assistant Secretary of State confirmed discussions were ongoing and that the Vienna Convention was being used as the basis to define the workings of the embassies. 

“It isn’t a lack of progress, every time we meet we have made advances. In the end, there are some tough issues to get past but I remain optimistic that we are progressing,” Jacobson said. She added that her hope was for U.S embassies in Cuba to operate in the same way they do elsewhere in the world. 

Jacobson said there might not be another round of talks as she trusts the mission chiefs might have done enough work in Havana and in Cuba in previous meetings.