United States and Cuba Hold Talks
United States and Cuba have been holding talks in Washington with the hope of re-establishing full diplomatic relations between the two countries. So far however, they have not been able to come to an agreement on the issues in question. They have however agreed to keep on talking.
Both nations sent representatives to the talks at the State Department to try to resolve a checklist of issues. The purpose of the talks is to elevate the current diplomatic outposts into full-fledged embassies, and to be able to exchange ambassadors for the first time in fifty years.
Diplomats on both sides recently did say that they felt an agreement was near, although they admitted they still had some issues to resolve.
The United States has been insisting that its diplomats be allowed to move around Cuba freely and to be allowed to speak freely to whomever they wish. Cuba however feels that this freedom of movement could lead to a way of strengthening the dissident movement.
Cuba has been slow to agree to full diplomatic relations until it was able to find a bank to handle its accounts in the United States. Another stipulation was that Cuba be removed from the American government’s list of states that sponsor international terrorism.
President Obama and President Raul Castro have publicly said that they do want embassies, but working out the details is apparently taking some time.
