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U.S. to reestablish direct mail with Cuba

by Bradford Richardson - 12/12/15 11:45 AM ET

The U.S. and Cuba on Friday said direct mail service between the countries will reopen for the first time in more than half a century, according to the Washington Post.

The State Department and Cuban embassy said in separate statements that the deal to provide direct mail flights — instead of routing mail through a third country, as has been done for decades — was reached Thursday during discussions in Miami.

{mosads}The Cuban statement said the two countries are still discussing “technical, operational and safety aspects,” but both sides said the details will be finalized in several weeks.

There were also hints of tension during the talks. Cuba’s state-controlled news agency, Prensa Latina, said the Cuban delegation presented U.S. negotiators with “several examples that prove damages” to the communist nation stemming from the ongoing U.S. economic embargo.

President Obama announced his plan to normalize U.S.-Cuban relations in December 2014 after 18 months of secret negotiations.

Secretary of State Kerry presided over the official reopening of the U.S. embassy in Havana earlier this year.

Direct mail service between the Cold War enemies was suspended by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Tags Cuba