US, Cuba Discuss Responses to Oil Spills, Ebola Outbreak

WASHINGTON, January 23 (Sputnik) — American and Cuban officials have discussed responses to the oil spills and Ebola outbreak among other issues of mutual interest during the visit of the US delegation to Havana, US Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson said in the press release on Friday.

"We discussed cooperation on important issues of mutual interest such as trafficking in persons, law enforcement, environmental protection, telecommunications and global health security, including coordinated responses to oil spills and Ebola," Jacobson stated, adding that US side also pressed the Cuban government for improved human rights conditions, including freedom of expression and assembly.

Jacobson stressed that the United States look forward to continuing the bilateral dialogue.

US and Cuban officials met in Havana on Thursday. The Cuban delegation was led by the Foreign Ministry’s Director General for US Affairs, Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, and Jacobson led the delegation for the United States.

On Wednesday, US delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretary for South America and Cuba Alex Lee and Cuban delegation chaired by Foreign Ministry’s Director General for US affairs Josefina Vidal Ferreiro started migration talks.

Earlier this week Jacobson met with Cuban Jewish community as part of her engagement with civil society groups in Cuba.

On December 17, 2014, US President Barack Obama announced Washington’s decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba and ease five-decade-long US trade and travel restrictions on the island. Obama stated that the United States has plans to work together with Havana in areas of mutual interest, such as health, migration, counterterrorism, drug-trafficking and disaster response.

Since 1961, the United States had an embargo in place against Cuba due to Cold War antagonism between Washington and the Communist government in Havana.