An official dialogue towards the full normalisation of bilateral diplomatic ties between the US and Cuba is likely to be held in Havana in late January 2015, US Assistant Secretary of State in charge of Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson said on December 18.
The statement followed the historic announcements by Cuban President Raul Castro and his US counterpart Barack Obama to restore the two countries’ diplomatic relations after 53 years of interruption one day earlier.
According to the Assistant Secretary, the two countries are discussing the possibility of upgrading their planned migration talks to a higher level, using it as an opportunity to begin talking about some other things
Regarding a legal perspective, the process is relatively straightforward, she said, stressing that what both have to do now is to reach an agreement on the process and also terminate the 53-year agreement that they have had with the Swiss Government as their protecting power.
The official also said that her country’s leaders are considering the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, an important move for the US to take off sanctions and restrictions against the island country.
Obama has asked the Department of State to accelerate the work and make a final decision in the next six months, she added.
On the same day, the White House mentioned the possibility of a US visit by Cuban President Raul Castro. It also established a Spanish-language webpage called “A New Course for Cuba”, listing measures Obama is going to take to normalise bilateral relations, including normalising diplomatic ties, loosening travel and trade restrictions, and adjusting import-export regulations.
VNA
