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U.S. To Hold
New Talks With Cuban Representative
U.S. To Hold
New Talks With Cuban Representative
Washington - Assistant Secretary of
State Tom Shannon on Monday will meet
representative of the Cuba interests section
in the United States, said U.S. State
Department.
"And this afternoon, Assistant Secretary Tom
Shannon is going to meet with the head of
the Cuba interests section for a meeting at
a mutually convenient location," said State
Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood.
"I think the last time they met was April 13
here at the State Department building," he
said, adding "over the years, we have had
periodic contact with representatives of the
Cuban interests section."
The Monday's meeting would be the first
after President Barack Obama called for a
new beginning between the United States and
Cuba at the Fifth Summit of the Americas
held on April 17 in Trinidad and Tobago.
"The United States seeks a new beginning
with Cuba. I know there is a longer journey
that must be traveled to overcome decades of
mistrust. But there are critical steps we
can take toward a new day," he said.
At the summit, President Obama told his
Latin American counterparts that the
administration is prepared to engage in a
dialogue with Havana that includes human
rights, free speech, democratic reform,
migration and economic issues.
Ahead of his departure for the summit, the
president announced easing restrictions for
Cuban-Americans on travel and remittance to
Cuba.
The Washington Post-ABC News poll showed on
Monday that most Americans approve of
Obama's initial forays into revising the
country's Cuba policy, and many advocate
pushing further, to diplomatic relations and
an end to the trade embargo and travel ban.
"Those are steps that the president has
taken to further engage the Cuban people.
And we'll have to see what else comes in the
future," said Wood, adding "We want to see
the Cuban government reciprocate."
"Clearly, there are some steps that the
Cuban government needs to do with regard to
its own people, allowing the Cuban people to
have some of the freedoms that are enjoyed
in other countries in the hemisphere," said
the spokesman. |
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