US, Cuba to hold talks on migration

Washington, May 31 (DPA) The US and Cuba are to hold discussions on migration and other issues for the first time since such talks were broken off six years ago, the US State Department announced Sunday.

US State Department officials said the talks, agreed to by Cuba Saturday, would also cover mail services between the two countries. No further details were made known.

US President Barack Obama had previously stated the desire to create a new beginning in US relations with the communist-led government in Havana.

The US president recently eased travel restrictions for exile Cubans to their country of origin as well as loosened other restrictions in the US' Cuba policy.

Obama has however made clear that there was still a long road ahead in overcoming decades of animosity between the two countries, as he called for greater democracy and freedom for Latin America's sole remaining country under a one-party system.