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    History In Havana

    U.S., Cuban officials look for common ground

    drpfalk
    by drpfalk

    Community Contributor

    US CUBA NEGOTIATIONS HIGHEST LEVEL in 35 Years

    Via cbsnews.com

    U.S. and Cuban officials were to hold a second day of historic face-to-face talks on Thursday -- the highest-level discussion the two countries have had in Havana since 1980.

    The dialogue got off to a rough start, but they will continue with a focus on re-establishing the U.S. Embassy in Havana and reopening the Cuban Embassy in Washington, reports CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojoroquez.

    The first meeting between high-level American and Cuban diplomats on Wednesday -- decades in the making -- tackled the contentious issue of immigration.

    The head of Cuba's team, foreign ministry official Josefina Vidal, criticized the Cuban Adjustment Act, which includes the "wet foot dry foot" policy. It states that Cubans intercepted at sea by U.S. law enforcement are returned to Cuba, while those who make it onto U.S. soil can apply for permanent residency after one year.

    Vidal said the policy encourages illegal immigration to the U.S., and endangers the lives of Cuban citizens.

    U.S. diplomat Alex Lee said it would remain in effect.

    "My government is completely committed to upholding the Cuban Adjustment Act," Lee said.

    Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson will head up the U.S. team in discussions Thursday about easing travel restrictions between the two nations.

    The diplomatic talks could eventually bring American telecommunications companies to the island nation of 11 million. Young Cubans, thirsty for unfiltered online access, gather daily outside an art gallery in search of free Wi-Fi.

    One 16 year old discovered Facebook just last week. She said it was spectacular.

    In December, the U.S. Coast Guard captured or turned away twice as many Cubans compared to December of 2013. U.S. officials pointed to a spike in the number of rafters attempting to reach Florida after the December 17 announcement that the countries would move to normalize relations.

    Those numbers appear to have slowed in recent days.

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