US and Cuba set to begin talks on resuming direct mail service

[SpartanDem]

Source: The Guardian

The United States and Cuba plan to start talks on resuming direct mail service for the first time in nearly half a century as the Obama administration continues to try to engage the communist island, diplomats said today.

The negotiations are tentatively set for 17 September, according to the diplomats, as a follow-up the resumption to talks in July on the legal immigration of Cubans to the US. The two sides agreed on the two sets of discussions in late May, a month after President Barack Obama eased travel and financial restrictions on Americans with family members in Cuba.

The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the negotiations are not yet complete.

Direct postal service between the United States and Cuba was terminated in 1963, and since then mail has had to go through third countries. Previous attempts to restore the link have failed and experts believe Cuba's communist government remains sensitive about what kind of material might be sent to the island from the US.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/01/cuba-usa-mail-service

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Thank goodness! nt

[Lasher]

2. Good, maybe Cuba will mail us some health care. n/t

[Chemisse]

3. Baby steps, but they will lead to the final goal

It's past time to bury the hatchet with Cuba.

[Vidar]

4. It's a small step, but a good one.

[Mika]

5. I'll post the same comment as on the other thread on this topic. BS

Previous attempts to restore the link have failed and experts believe Cuba's communist government remains sensitive about what kind of material might be sent to the island from the United States.

Bullshit.

The all powerful iron fist of Castro would have screened every piece of mail, just like every Cuban has a minder to make sure they smile for tourist cameras.

:sarcasm:


Typical anti Cuba spin. Blame Cuba for the US's imperialist position on Cuba, and the subsequent punishment of Cubans for not succumbing.

It was all about a vendetta with the US trying to isolate Cuba. Period.

Post revolution Cuba has ALWAYS been advocating for full normalization of relations. It has been the USA resisting and tripping up Cuba every step of the way (with a possible exception during the Carter admin).

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[harmonicon]

6. talks? just do it, you fucking sissies.

[Swede Atlanta]

7. Nice to have adults in charge finally.....

This has been such a sham. Why would you not allow any kind of direct mail service between two countries? It is the most ridiculous policy but we have to remember politicians are generally only a step away from being in the nuthouse.

[truthisfreedom]

8. Uh-oh, some remailing services are getting very nervous!

[Mika]

9. Yes. Taking the profit out of the sanctions.

Its and industry in Miami. Going to be hell to pay if this goes through. LOL

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[Bacchus39]

10. maybe it will end the toilet paper crisis??? but how will Cuba prevent "counter revolutionary"

material from getting through??

[Mika]

11. The iron hand of Castro will screen each and every package.

Its a crying shame that the US Postal service will get some business, isn't it? This is some crazy shit. Direct mail between two nations using their national mail systems? Think of all those lucrative and exorbitantly priced transshipments by Miami based shippers taking advantage of the sanctions that will be lost. No more middlemen in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere taking their cut at the expense of the Cubans suffering on the evil island of Dr Castro. What next?

Just in case .. :sarcasm:

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[Bacchus39]

12. I don't mind at all Mika. Its a good thing. Just sayin' I don't trust the Cuban government

I am sure toilet paper will be received quite well. I just wonder what products won't be met with such enthusiasm by the Castro regime.

just in case...


well I am OK with 4 out of 5. not so sure about this one though:

Any item - including literature- attempting against the security and internal order of the country. (nothing against the regimen and/or Fidel Castro)

I imagine this will apply to mail too.

http://www.cubavacationstravel.com/cuba_custom_prohibited_items.php

[Mika]

15. Imagine away.

That's one thing you excel at regarding Cuba: Imagination. A vivid one at that.

We know that you've never been there, communicate with no Cubans in Cuba, and know next to nothing about the place, so imagination (dark fantasies, really) is all you've got on this topic in general.

[Bacchus39]

17. ok Mika, looks like underwear and toilet paper are OK

in fact, if you send underwear you should have the courtesy and common sense to send toilet paper too. but I wonder if a book entitled "Castro is a senile walking corpse who lives like a monarch while Cubans live in perpetual indentured servitude" would get through.

[flamingdem]

13. It is possible to mail things there now, via Mexico

a friend sent some underwear and it arrived okay.

[Mika]

14. Yes. As my post noted, direct mail will cut our these offshore middlemen.

I also send packages.

:hi:

[flamingdem]

16. No, I mean the US mail! It goes to Mexico first then Cuba, I've sent mail from Cuba

and it reaches the US in about 3 weeks. Postcards only.

What needs to be reestablished is direct mail to Cuba but mail does go back and forth now.

Try it! Save money on the mules if you have something light weight to send.