HAVANA: The United States and Cuba fell short of setting dates to reopen embassies but agreed to meet again to overcome deep rifts after they wrapped up historic talks Thursday aimed at normalizing relations.
Cuban officials and the highest-ranking US delegation to visit Havana in 35 years praised the tone of their landmark discussions as they work to restore ties broken off in 1961, but they sparred over human rights and admitted to "profound differences."
They must still discuss a date or location for their next meeting.
It was the first get-together since US President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro surprised the world in December when they simultaneously announced plans to normalize ties after decades of enmity.
Roberta Jacobson, the US assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, said the talks had been "positive and productive."
The two sides discussed technical issues that need to be worked out to open embassies but, Jacobson said, "I can't tell you exactly when that will happen."
The broader goal of normalizing ties will take time, the US official cautioned.
"Those issues that are part of the full range of normalization are complex and they reflect profound differences between our two countries and will continue to be discussed," she said.
"We have... to overcome more than 50 years of a relationship that was not based on confidence or trust," she said, one day after her deputy met Cuban officials on migration policy.
Comments
Comments are closed.