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As Cuba and Obama Administration Meet, December in Havana Proposed, Wet Foot Panned

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 14 -- Cuba and the Obama Administration met Tuesday in New York, the first migration talks between the two countries since their suspension by George W. Bush six years ago.

  Afterwards, Cuba went beyond the U.S.'s two paragraph summary and, in a statement sent by fax to select news agencies criticized the U.S.'s ongoing "differential treatment" of those arriving illegally from Cuba, the so-called "wet foot, dry foot" policy, while announcing they have made a proposal for a new accord and more talks in Havana in December.

   In the run up to the talks, wire services reported that the meeting would take place inside the United Nations. But inquiries Tuesday found the location a closely held secret: neither in the UN nor at either nation's mission in New York.

  In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said only "in New York, and that a read out would be available "before breakfast" on Wednesday. Word among the UN press corps specializing in Latin America, activated of late around the constitutional drama in Honduras in which Cuba has been active, was that the meeting was held at the Waldorff.

   After close of business, the U.S. put out a two paragraph statement by Ian Kelly.

Barack Obama at G-8 meeting per but not at UN

"On Tuesday, July 14, the United States and Cuba met to discuss implementation of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords. This was the first such meeting since 2003. In the course of the meeting, the U.S. team, led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Craig Kelly, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to promote safe, orderly, and legal migration. Engaging in these talks underscores our interest in pursuing constructive discussions with the government of Cuba to advance U.S. interests on issues of mutual concern.

"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. The agenda for the talks reflected long-standing U.S. priorities on Cuba migration issues, including: ensuring that the U.S. Interests Section in Havana is able to operate fully and effectively; gaining access to a deep water port for the safe repatriation of migrants; ensuring that the American consular staff at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana are able to monitor the welfare of repatriated migrants; and gaining Cuban government acceptance for the repatriation of all Cuban nationals who are excludable on criminal grounds. The United States views these talks as a venue to achieve practical, positive results that contribute to the full implementation of the Accords and to the safety of our citizens."

  The Cuban statement, provided anachronistically by faxed and not email, specified that the Cuban delegation to this "21st round of migration talks" was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez, who "submitted to the U.S. a proposal for a new agreement."

  Rodrriguez called it a "fruitful working session" but said that the goals even of the current agreement would not be achieved "as long at the U.S. continues the Cuban Adjustment Act" and the wet foot / dry foot policy.

   Unlike the U.S. statement, Cuba's put forward a next step: a new set of talks in December in Havana. How will the Obama Administration react? Watch this site.

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