Rare US-Cuba talks to explore resuming mail services

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and Cuba are exploring the possibility of resuming direct mail services between the two countries after a 50-year ban, US officials with knowledge of the talks said yesterday.

Representatives from the US State Department and United States Postal Service will meet with Cuban diplomats today and tomorrow in Washington to discuss the issue, the officials said.

The US officials said the talks are technical in nature and emphasized that they did not indicate a change in US policy toward Cuba. Direct mail service between the United States and Cuba has been suspended since 1963. Despite the ban, letters and other mail still flow between the United States and the island nation 90 miles (145 km) away through other countries.