The State Department issued a statement Friday on migration talks in Havana between U.S. and Cuban officials.
According to the note, the U.S. delegation reiterated its call for the release of Alan Gross, who was visited by the head of the U.S. delegation, Edward Alex Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. In a news conference, Alex Lee declined to give details on that visit and the nature of his conversation with Gross.
According to Peter Orsi, from the Associated Press, Lee stated, "We believe that Alan should be released...We do not see any reason why he received such a harsh sentence." Lee also acknowledged that he had listened to concerns from Cuban officials regarding four Cuban agents serving time in the United States.
According to Peter Orsi, from the Associated Press, Lee stated, "We believe that Alan should be released...We do not see any reason why he received such a harsh sentence." Lee also acknowledged that he had listened to concerns from Cuban officials regarding four Cuban agents serving time in the United States.
Alan Gross was arrested by Cuban authorities in December of 2009 and later sentenced to 15 years in prison for alleged crimes against the Cuban state.
At a press conference in Havana, Deputy Assistant Secretary Alex Lee said the migration talks held on Thursday were constructive and positive, but did not elaborate further.
He also reported that he met with dissidents and other officials of the communist government, but did not disclose the content or nature of the conversations.
The State Department's daily press briefing notes that the implementation of the migration accords of 1994 and 1995 between the U.S. and Cuba were discussed. Spokesperson Jen Psaki stated, "This marks the second time since January 2011 that these talks have been held. Under the accords, both governments pledge to promote safe, legal, and orderly migration between Cuba and the United States. The agenda for the talks reflected longstanding U.S. priorities on Cuba-U.S. migration issues, as well as cooperation on aviation security, search and rescue, and consular document fraud."
While the U.S. delegation was headed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Edward Alex Lee, the Cuban delegation was led by Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, head of the Foreign Ministry U.S. Department in Cuba.