US-Cuba talks end, embassies left hanging in the air
A third round of talks between the United States and Cuba over normalization of ties has ended behind closed doors.
Delegates from the two sides were trying to reach an agreement over reopening embassies in Washington and Havana during the Tuesday talks but officials did not comment on whether a progress had been made in that regard.
They are making efforts to reach it before US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, take part at the Summit of the Americas scheduled to be held in Panama on April 10 and 11.
According to the Cuban foreign ministry, the talks were held "in a professional atmosphere" and "the two delegations agreed to maintain communication in the future as part of this process."
US State Department spokesman also called the talks were “positive and constructive” and held “in an atmosphere of mutual respect".
Havana says it must be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism before a deal while it also objects to US contact with the dissidents in Cuba.
No threat accepted
Meanwhile, the Cuban president attended a summit in the Venezuelan capital, organized in response to US sanctions recently announced against Caracas.
According to Cuban state television, Castro said Venezuela "will never accept threats and impositions" from Washington.
The new Venezuela sanctions, however, do not seem to be derailing the US-Cuba talks.
A historic thaw in Washington-Havana relations was announced on December 17, 2014 by President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro.
Washington placed an official embargo against Cuba in 1962. They became ideological foes soon after the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
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