US and Cuban diplomats meet again

[babylonsister]

Good. Diplomacy is hard work!


US and Cuban diplomats meet again

By ROBERT BURNS
AP National Security Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- A senior U.S. diplomat met Monday with Cuba's top Washington representative, but a State Department spokesman cautioned that the session did not signal a renewed U.S. push to improve relations.

Spokesman Robert A. Wood said Thomas A. Shannon Jr., the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, met in an undisclosed location with the head of the Cuban interests section, Jorge Bolanos.

Wood told reporters ahead of the session that the two men, who also met April 13, would discuss a range of issues related to President Barack Obama's decision April 14 to lift a ban on Americans visiting relatives in Cuba and easing restrictions on money transfers to relatives there.

The administration has said it wants Cuba to reciprocate with moves such as releasing political prisoners.

"We have concerns about Cuban policies. We'll be raising them," Wood said, referring to Monday's meeting. "I'm sure that there will be a discussion of the president's steps that he announced recently. But beyond that, I don't have much of an agenda."

Alberto Gonzalez Casals, spokesman for the Cuban interests section, declined to comment on the meeting.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_CUBA?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[arcadian]

1. Anybody have any idea when travel restriction for Cuba might be lifted?

I'm interested in going there. Will these talk lead to a llift of the ban?

[babylonsister]

2. No one knows yet, but I'd bet it will happen pretty soon.

Or after Fidel dies. :shrug: I'm interested in visiting, too.