Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 31, 2009

US Official: Cuba Agrees to Resume Migration Talks
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2486104:A6F02AD83191E160AFC2310B0DC08A56A13B8D4F2090AB2B&
 
Senior US State Department official also says Washington and Havana plan
to pursue negotiations on joint efforts to combat drug trafficking 
Cuban and American Flag U.S. officials say Cuba and the United States
have agreed to resume talks on legal migration and human smuggling
between the two countries. A senior U.S. State Department official said
Cuba agreed Saturday to a U.S. offer for migration talks, which were
last held in 2003.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity,
also said the two governments plan to pursue negotiations on joint
efforts to combat drug trafficking. The United States and Cuba share
some information about human smuggling and drug trafficking operations
on a case-by-case basis. The U.S. official says the new planned talks
would expand those contacts, and aim to strengthen ties between the two
governments. Also, the official said they plan to resume direct mail
service. All mail between the two countries currently is processed
through a third country. The U.S. employs a "wet foot, dry foot" policy
for illegal Cuban immigrants. Under the policy, Cubans who make it to
U.S. soil usually are allowed to stay. Those intercepted at sea are most
often returned. The latest move by the U.S. follows President Barack
Obama's decision in April to ease travel and money transfer restrictions
on Cuban-Americans with relatives on the island. But Mr. Obama left the
long-standing U.S. embargo against Cuba in place. He has said it is up
to Cuba to take the next step. Cuban President Raul Castro recently
repeated an offer to discuss "everything" with the United States to try
to improve ties, but he said Cuba does not have to make "gestures" to
the U.S.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. 


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