US asks Cuba to resume talks on legal immigration

[babylonsister]

US asks Cuba to resume talks on legal immigration

MATTHEW LEE | May 22, 2009 07:17 PM EST | AP


WASHINGTON — In a new overture to Cuba, the Obama administration asked the island's communist government on Friday to resume talks on legal immigration of Cubans to the United States suspended by former President George W. Bush.

The State Department said it had proposed that the discussions, which were halted after the last meeting in 2003, be restarted to "reaffirm both sides' commitment to safe, legal and orderly migration, to review trends in illegal Cuban migration to the United States and to improve operational relations with Cuba on migration issues."

President Barack Obama "wants to ensure that we are doing all we can to support the Cuban people in fulfilling their desire to live in freedom," said Darla Jordan, a department spokeswoman. "He will continue to make policy decisions accordingly."

The move follows Obama's decision in April to rescind restrictions on travel to Cuba by Americans with family there and on the amount of money they can send to their relatives on the island.

It also comes ahead of a high-level meeting early next month of the Organization of American States, where Cuba's possible re-entry into the regional bloc will be discussed. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will attend the June 2 meeting in Honduras.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090522/us-us-cuba/

[HopeOverFear]

1. Great news!

[Cha]

2. It does sound encouraging

..amazing what happens when there's an open dialogue.