Cuba, US Officers Meet in Havana to Focus on Anti-Terrorism Measures

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban and U.S. officers met on Friday in Havana to debate anti-terrorism measures, Cuba’s inside ministry stated, broaching a very thorny topic between the 2 long-time rivals within the newest in a sequence of bilateral talks.

Terrorism is a contentious difficulty as Cuba is on the U.S. record of state sponsors of terrorism, a matter the 2 sides agreed to proceed discussing, nevertheless the talks this week had been primarily “technical”.

The conferences, which included the U.S. State Division, Justice Division and Homeland Safety and their Cuban counterparts, addressed the hijacking of plane and maritime vessels and using digital networks for violent functions.

“The belief of this alternate is an expression of the dedication of the Cuban authorities within the combat in opposition to (terrorism),” the inside ministry assertion stated.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump positioned Cuba on the U.S. record of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that Cuba’s authorities has rejected.

The record imposes strict sanctions on the communist-run island, complicating monetary transactions and contributing, Cuba says, to a extreme financial disaster that has led to shortages of gas, meals and medication and a record-breaking exodus of migrants north to the USA.

The inside ministry assertion stated Cuba had expressed its opposition to the designation on this week’s conferences, which started Thursday, however stated each events agreed to proceed the talks going ahead.

The U.S. State Division didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The Biden administration has stated it’s reviewing Cuba’s standing on the terrorism record however has but to make any adjustments.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood in Havana; Modifying by Sonali Paul)

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