Cuba, US to resume immigration talks
Talks between Cuba and the United States on the thorny issue of immigration, suspended since 2003, are set to resume Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed the talks would resume, adding that they would take place at the United Nations building in Manhattan.
The move to thaw relations follows President Barack Obama's decision in April to authorise travel and money transfers to the island by US nationals of Cuban descent.
In early June, the White House welcomed Havana's agreement to resume talks on migration issues, but the US official did not confirm whether the negotiations would address establishing direct mail service between the two countries -- current policy requires mail to go through third countries.
"Obviously, it's in the interest of both governments," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs last month.
"Obviously, I think direct mail would increase the ability for the president's initiative to be able to reach out directly to the Cuban people."
Discussions on immigration issues have been held every two years until they were suspended in 2003 by Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush.
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