Cuba Migration Talks: U.S. State Department Press Release

Press Statement

Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC
January 12, 2011

On Wednesday, January 12, 2011, the United States and Cuba met in Havana, Cuba to discuss the implementation of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords. This was the fourth such meeting since the resumption of the Cuba Migration Talks in 2009. In the course of the meeting, the U.S. team, led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to promote safe, legal, and orderly migration. The Cuban delegation was led by Vice Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez Barrera.

As U.S. officials have consistently done, the U.S. delegation raised the case of Alan Gross, the U.S. citizen detained in Cuba since December 3, 2009, and called for his immediate release.

The agenda for the talks reflected longstanding U.S. priorities on Cuba migration issues. The U.S. delegation highlighted areas of successful cooperation in migration, while also identifying issues that have been obstacles to the full implementation of the Accords. Engaging in these talks underscores our interest in pursuing constructive discussions with the Government of Cuba to advance U.S. interests.

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JG: Alan Gross is responsible for violating Cuban laws. Violating a country's national sovereignty has severe consequences. That is just my opinion, and does not represent someone else's views.