Thursday's meeting was held at the Havana Convention Palace, with the Cuban delegation headed by Josefina Vidal, director general of the U.S. Affairs Department at the Foreign Relations Ministry (Minrex), and the U.S. delegation led by Roberta Jacobson, assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Jacobson is the highest-level U.S. official visiting Cuba in nearly four decades.
Jacobson described the Thursday's talks as "positive and productive."
"We talked in real and concrete terms the necessary steps for the restoration of diplomatic relations between our countries," said Jacobson. "We talked about the opening of embassies in our respective countries and how we expect to operate the US Embassy in Havana."
According to Jacobson, both sides discussed the measures to be taken for restoring the relations as quickly as possible, but recognized that retaking the formal ties will be a "lengthy" process, because of the conflicting point of views and the " profound differences" on other issues, such as Cuba's human rights record.
"We have to overcome more than 50 years of a relationship that was not based on confidence or trust. There are things we have to discuss before we can establish that relationship," said Jacobson, who hinted more negotiations to be held in the future, but failed to specify the dates.
Cuban officials also praised the openness of Thursday's meeting, stressing that issues including "respect for the independence of our people," the lifting of the U.S. trade embargo on the island are important on the road of normalization of bilateral relations. They also reiterated Cuba's willingness to continue a respectful dialogue with the U.S. government based on sovereign equality and reciprocity, without prejudice to the national independence and the self-determination of Cuban people.
"No one can expect that Cuba, for improving the relations with America, will give up its principles," said Josefina Vidal, the Minrex official.
The bilateral diplomatic relations must be based on the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, including sovereign equality, equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and the non-intervention in the internal affairs of States, Vidal said.
She stressed that after these negotiations the island nation " will not accept the surviving" of the economic blockade imposed by Washington over 50 years ago and insisted Cuba's status on the U.S. list of "countries sponsoring terrorism" should be changed.
- Thursday's talks between Cuba and the U.S. were divided into two sessions: the reestablishing of the diplomatic relations in the morning, and in the afternoon discussions focusing on "issues of bilateral interest," such as the cooperation in fighting against terrorism, drug dealing and human trafficking.
23/1/15
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Related:
Obama calls for an end to Cuba embargo
President Obama says the US has "turned the page"
US Assistant Secretary of State to Visit Cuba on January 21-22
Cuban lawmakers approve restoring ties with US
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Top US official meets dissidents in Cuba ...
ReplyDeleteThe highest-ranking US official to visit Cuba in 35 years met with leading dissidents on Friday, but one prominent opposition figure declined to attend amid differences over Washington's rapprochement with Havana.
Berta Soler, the head of the Ladies in White group of spouses of political prisoners, had been expected to attend the meeting with Roberta Jacobson, the state department's top official for Latin America, but turned down the invitation.
"I did not participate," Soler told AFP. "My decision was due to there not being a balance in terms of the diversity of opinion of the participants." ......................http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Top-US-official-meets-dissidents-in-Cuba/articleshow/45996668.cms
23/1/15
US-Cuba talks end 'positively' ...
ReplyDeleteTwo days of historic talks between the United States and Cuba have concluded, with both sides agreeing to meet again.
The discussions this time have focused mostly on restoring diplomatic ties.
No date has been established yet as to when that may happen.
Cuban delegation chief Josefina Vidal says the biggest issue for her side is getting the economic blockade lifted.
"I trust in a better future for our countries, I believe in that. We are neighboring countries, as I said this morning, we have profound differences, but we have seen how countries in the world with profound differences can co-exist peacefully, in a civilized way, finding a way to common problems."
While headway is being reported between the US and Cuba, sharp divisions still remain on key issues such as human rights and immigration..................http://www.china.org.cn/world/2015-01/24/content_34645015.htm
24/1/15