Leahy heads US Senate delegation to Cuba ahead of embassies

Leahy heads US Senate delegation to Cuba ahead of embassies
The Associated Press

HAVANA
A bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators was in Cuba on Friday to meet
with top government officials and others to discuss rapprochement
between the two countries.

The United States and Cuba announced on Dec. 17 they would move to
restore diplomatic ties that were severed more than 50 years ago, but
talks on reopening embassies have yet to yield an agreement six months
later.

Asked when that might happen, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy said, "the
sooner the better."

"I'm glad to see things are changing between our countries, and the more
they change, the faster they change, the better for both countries," he
said in brief remarks as the lawmakers left their Havana hotel and
boarded a bus.

Leahy, who has traveled to Cuba multiple times, was leading a group that
also included fellow Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland and Republican Dean
Heller of Nevada.

The senators met with Cuba's first vice president and heir-apparent to
Raul Castro, Miguel Diaz-Canel.

A statement from the U.S. State Department said the delegation also
would meet with religious leaders, ambassadors and others in Havana and
the eastern city of Santiago.

Source: Leahy heads US Senate delegation to Cuba ahead of embassies |
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