Direct mail talks with Cuba 'positive,' US says

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The first round of talks on restoring direct mail service between long-time foes Cuba and the United States were "positive," the US State Department said.

"The United States considers this first round of talks to have been positive," State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said in a statement.

During the one-day meeting in Havana on Thursday, "a variety of issues related to the transportation, quality and security of mail service between our countries were discussed," he added.

The US delegation was led by Bisa Williams, the deputy assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs -- the administration's pointwoman on Cuba.

The first senior State Department representative to visit the communist island since 2002, she was accompanied by officials from the US Postal Service.

The Cuban delegation offered US officials a tour of a mail processing center and post office, while the US delegation offered to reciprocate with a visit to an international processing center in the United States.

Both sides agreed to meet again, Crowley said.

Direct postal links between the two countries have been suspended since 1963, with mail being sent via third countries, including Mexico.

Thursday's talks are the latest in a series of tentative steps the two countries have taken towards improved relations since US President Barack Obama came to office.

"Establishing direct mail service between our two countries supports President Obama's goals, as announced April 13, of bridging the gap among divided Cuban families and promoting the free flow of information to the Cuban people," said Crowley.

"We will be reviewing the results of our discussions to determine how best to move forward on this issue."

Obama has lifted travel and money transfer restrictions on Cuban-Americans with relatives in Cuba.

But his administration has insisted that Cuba release political prisoners and improve political freedoms before it is readmitted to regional bodies like the Organization of American States.

The president also raised the ire of the Cuban government by choosing to renew Monday the Trading with the Enemy Act, which provided the original basis for the US embargo on Cuba.