U.S. And Cuba Hold Highest-Level Meeting In 50 Years

U.S. & Cuba Hold Highest-Level Meeting In 50 Years

For the first time in more than 50 years, the U.S. and Cuban foreign ministers met Thursday night for at least two hours in a historic high-level meeting, reports Reuters.

In the latest step toward strengthening ties since President Barack Obama announced important change in U.S. relations with Cuba on Dec. 17, Secretary of State John Kerry met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in a Panama City hotel, the report says.

Reuters reports:

The encounter took place on the eve of the Summit of the Americas in Panama, where Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro will cross paths along with other leaders in the region. The two men are expected to at least shake hands.

Obama appears to be close to removing Cuba from the list of countries that the U.S. government says sponsor terrorism.

The State Department has now recommended that Cuba be taken off the list, a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee aide said earlier on Thursday.

Obama is expected to agree with Kerry, though it’s unclear whether he will announce his decision during the summit, notes the report.

SOURCE: REUTERS | VIDEO CREDIT: NDN