Cuba, US launch normalization process

Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez talk prior to their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. Kerry traveled to the Cuban capital to raise the U.S. flag and formally reopen the long-closed U.S. Embassy. Cuba and U.S. officially restored diplomatic relations July 20, as part of efforts to normalize ties between the former Cold War foes. AP

HAVANA — Cuban and US diplomats formally launched the process of normalizing the relationship between the two countries, meeting Friday to set the agenda for talks on topics ranging from environmental cooperation to compensation for American properties confiscated by Cuba.

Cuba’s top diplomat for US affairs hinted that a visit by President Barack Obama to Cuba could take place if the negotiations were successful.

Small teams of negotiators met Friday in Havana as a steering committee that will oversee a series of regular talks in Havana and Washington between lower-ranking diplomats and specialists in technical fields.

Cuban head of North American Affairs Josefina Vidal told reporters in Havana that the agenda had been divided into three tracks, with the first encompassing issues where there is significant agreement and the possibility of short-term progress. These include re-establishing regularly scheduled flights and combatting drug trafficking. A second track includes more difficult topics such as human rights. The third includes complex, longer-term issues like the return of the US base at Guantanamo Bay.

Vidal indicated that the both sides saw the start of the process as opening at least the possibility of an Obama visit to Cuba, saying that it is natural for countries with normal relations to receive visits from each other’s leaders.

“If it isn’t at the highest level, it could be at least a cabinet secretary or something at an intermediary level but still high-ranking nonetheless,” she said. “We’re now really at a new stage in the relationship and as result we have to look at that as something that could happen in the future and would be natural.”

The steering committee will meet again in Washington in November.

“The discussions were full and frank, extensive, and conducted in a courteous and respectful manner,” the State Department said. “Both governments agreed to concrete steps to continue on the path toward normalized relations.”

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