Cuba-US to Meet over Immigration

HAVANA TIMES June 1 – The governments of Cuba and the United States will resume talks on migratory issues, suspended by the Bush administration in 2003, announced a Department of State spokesperson, reported IPS.

Likewise, the Washington Post reported that Jorge Bolaños, the head of the Cuban Interests Section in the US capital, had not only accepted the US offer to resume immigration talks but also to discuss a resumption of direct mail service between the two countries, broken off for decades.

Cuban President Raul Castro has repeatedly said that his country is willing to hold talks with the Obama administration to improve US-Cuban relations, as long as they take place without pre-conditions and in a climate of mutual respect.

Throughout 11 US administrations from Eisenhower to Obama, the US has maintained a hostile stance towards Cuba and its revolution, including a crippling economic embargo imposed by the Kennedy government that is still in place today.

The US government also forbids ordinary US citizens from traveling to Cuba under threat of heavy fines. Several bills are in the US Congress to end the travel ban.