U.S.-Cuba Talks Tackle Human Rights, Reopening Embassies
The United States will continue to push Cuba on its human rights record, American lawmakers said in Havana on Thursday, insisting reopening diplomatic channels was the best way to do so.
A team of nine Democratic Congress members are in the communist island nation for talks aimed at normalizing relations between the former Cold War foes.
Congressman Jim McGovern said both sides had discussed human rights on "a number of occasions" during the visit and said mudslinging was not the most productive way forward.
"The best way to promote human rights is to accelerate this new process to establish formal embassies in Havana and Washington," McGovern told reporters.
He said both sides had rejected "pointing fingers and making accusations."
"We have now a more mature relationship, we actually talk about these issues."
The U.S. delegation, led by top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, met with senior Cuban officials, including foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez and leading negotiator on U.S. relations, Josefina Vidal.
McGovern said re-opening embassies in both countries was crucial and that discussions on tough issues would continue.
"Of course we don't agree on everything but I think we could probably accomplish a lot more if we have a relationship based on mutual respect," he said.
Pelosi said the visit was a promising step, and was hopeful about future ties.
"We're very positively impressed by what we heard here about our future prospects and the relationship," said Pelosi, one of the most senior U.S. lawmakers to visit the communist-ruled island in more than 50 years.
The move to restore ties severed decades ago began December 17 with a surprise announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuba's Raul Castro.
The U.S representatives also met members of Cuba's national assembly, Roman Catholic cardinal Jaime Ortega and Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The next round of talks is scheduled for February 27 in the U.S. capital.
Source: Agence France Presse
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