US, Cuba to start direct mail talks

[babylonsister]

US, Cuba to start direct mail talks

By MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States and Cuba will start talks this month on resuming direct mail service between the two countries for the first time in nearly half a century as the Obama administration continues to try to engage the communist island, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

The negotiations, set for Sept. 17, will follow the resumption in July of talks on the legal immigration of Cubans to the U.S., according to the officials. 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 officials spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the negotiations are not yet completed.

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 United States.

Obama wants to improve relations with Cuba and has taken several steps to gauge the Cuban leaderships' interest in doing so, including supporting a recent decision by the Organization of American States to revoke Cuba's 1962 suspension from the 34-country group.


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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_CUBA?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Judi Lynn]

1. Amazing! First stime in 50 years?!!!!! One step at a time. Thank you, babylonsister. n/t

[YOY]

2. 'bout fucking time.

n.t.

[jaysunb]

3. The postal service can use the business....

baby steps, but progress.

[Mika]

4. The BS buried in article

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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