Clinton welcomes US, Cuba talks on immigration

Washington, 1 June (WashingtonTV)—US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday welcomed Cuba’s decision to resume talks with the United States on immigration and mail service.

The immigration talks were suspended by then-President George W. Bush after the two countries last met in 2003. Havana notified Washington on Saturday that it had accepted an overture made by the Obama administration on 22 May to restart talks, reports the Associated Press.

“The talks are part of our efforts to forge a new way forward on Cuba that advances the interests of the United States, the Cuban people and our entire hemisphere,” Clinton said yesterday after talks with foreign and trade ministers from Latin America in El Salvador.

Clinton told reporters that while the Obama administration was “very pleased” with the Cuban decision, Washington would continue to press Havana on human rights and democratic reform.

The development comes ahead of Clinton’s participation in a meeting tomorrow of the Organization of American States in Honduras, where Cuba’s possible readmission to the group will likely be discussed, reports the Bloomberg news network.

Cuba also indicated yesterday a willingness to cooperate with America on fighting terrorism and drug trafficking and hurricane and disaster preparedness.

The two sides also agreed to discuss the resumption of direct mail service, which has not existed for decades, report Bloomberg.

In April, US President Barack Obama removed travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans visiting family in Cuba and lifted restrictions on the amount of money that they can send to their relatives on the island.

Sources: Associated Press, Bloomberg news network

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