US, Cuba discuss migration in sign of better ties

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. and Cuban officials yesterday held their first talks since 2003 on Cuban migration to  the United States, a step the U.S. State Department said showed  its desire to work constructively with the Communist island.

Both sides raised long-standing disagreements in the talks  held in New York, but said they had laid the groundwork for  future discussions.

“Engaging in these talks underscores our interest in  pursuing constructive discussions with the government of Cuba  to advance U.S. interests on issues of mutual concern,” State  Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez, who  headed the Cuban delegation, described the meeting as “a  fruitful working session that validates the usefulness of the  mechanism of these talks.”

“Progress was made in the identification of areas in which  both countries should work and cooperate to guarantee the  implementation of these accords,” he said in a statement.

Last held in 2003 and suspended by Washington in 2004, the  talks cover mid-1990s migration accords that aimed to prevent  an exodus of Cuban refugees to the United States such as the  1980 Mariel boatlift and another wave of boat people in 1994.