US-Cuba talks end without deal, more talks to follow

Washington, May 23 (IANS) The US and Cuba concluded their two-day talks here on Friday without a deal on reopening embassies, but agreed to meet more in the coming weeks.

Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, the chief US negotiator with Cuba, told reporters that the two countries were “much closer” toward their goals now, Xinhua news agency reported.

Josefina Vidal, director of US affairs at the Cuban foreign ministry, said the two sides would meet more in the coming weeks on the functioning of the embassies, as they continued to make progress in the just-concluded fourth round of talks.

Jacobson said, however, that there was no need for her to meet with Vidal for another round of negotiations, but the two countries would meet through their “Interests Sections” based in each other’s capitals.