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               US, Cuba Near Deal on Restoring Commercial Flights

   by VOA News

   U.S. and Cuban officials say they are nearing agreement on restoring
   regular commercial flights between the former Cold War foes after more
   than 50 years.

   Delegations from both nations have been meeting in Washington since
   Monday to finalize the details of a deal they have been working on for
   several months.

   Josefina Vidal, the director of North American affairs at the Cuban
   Foreign Ministry, told reporters Wednesday in Havana the two sides have
   made progress on a memorandum of understanding, and are close to making
   a formal announcement.

   A spokesman for the U.S. State Department confirmed that progress had
   been made, but said the teams were still negotiating.

   Several major U.S. airlines have expressed interest in establishing
   regular flights to Cuba, including American Airlines, Delta, United and
   JetBlue.

   News of the pending agreement comes a year after U.S. President Barack
   Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced the nations were
   restoring formal diplomatic relations that were severed shortly after
   communist leader Fidel Castro overthrew the island's longtime dictator
   in 1959.  Obama eased travel restrictions to the Caribbean island in
   September, but general tourism is banned by the U.S. trade embargo,
   which can only be lifted by Congress.

   In an interview with Yahoo! News last week, President Obama said he
   would like to visit Cuba next year, the last of his presidency, but
   only if he can meet with political dissidents.  The president said he
   hopes enough progress can be made in order for a visit to happen, and
   possibly to "nudge the Cuban government in a new direction."

   Vidal said the U.S. president is welcome to visit Cuba, but said it
   would not negotiate its internal affairs in exchange for better
   diplomatic relations with Washington.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-cuba-near-deal-on-restoring-commerical-flights/3106685.html