WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States and Cuba will discuss the Internet and civil aviation among other issues of mutual concern during the first meeting of the new Bilateral Commission in Havana on Friday, US Department of State spokesperson told Sputnik.
"The Department of State will send a small delegation to Havana on September 11 to participate in our first Bilateral Commission with the Cuban Foreign Ministry," the spokesperson stated.
The participants, the spokesperson explained, will also likely discuss migration, counter-narcotics and human trafficking, regulatory issues, environmental cooperation and direct mail.
The US is expected to raise the issue of human rights as well as law enforcement with the Cuban counterparts.
"I should also note that we do not envision entering into extensive discussion for each topic during this meeting but rather discuss the scope, timing, delegation level, and frequency of engagement for each issue," the spokesperson noted.
The delegation will be led by Chargé d’affaires ad interim in Havana Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the spokesperson said.
On August 14, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla announced the creation of the Bilateral Commission to address a host of outstanding issues between the two countries.
The United States and Cuba officially re-established full diplomatic relations on July 20 by reopening embassies in the countries’ capitals after 54 years of hostility.
The warming of relations came after US President Barack Obama announced in December 2014 that his administration would pursue a path toward normalizing relations with Cuba.
