WASHINGTON/HAVANA July 29 (Reuters) – The United States and Cuba have concluded a “substantive” second round of talks on multibillion-dollar claims against one another in Washington and agreed to hold more regular meetings on the matter, a State Department Official said yesterday.
The former Cold War foes had a first meeting outlining their respective claims in December in Havana as part of a deepening detente.
The issue is one of the key and complex obstacles to normalization of relations between the two countries.
“The second meeting was more substantive both in exploring more details about claims that need to be resolved but also in reviewing the practices of both countries in solving claims,” the State Department official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
“Both sides agreed they would have more regular meetings.”
There is no set date yet for the next meeting, which will place in Havana, in accordance with bilateral protocol, the official said.
Cuba wants at least $121 billion in reparations for economic damages caused by the U.S. trade embargo and at least $181 billion for “human damages.”
