CRI听力:U.S.-Cuba Talks End without Deal, More Talks to Follow

The United States and Cuba have concluded their two-day talks in Washington without a deal on reopening embassies.

The two sides have agreed to further meetings in the coming weeks.

Roberta Jacobson, the chief U.S. negotiator with Cuba, says the two countries are much closer to reestablishing relations and reopening embassies.

"This round of talks was highly productive. We will persist, inspired by the conviction that engagement and non-isolation are the keys to moving forward."

Josefina Vidal, director of U.S. affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, says both delegations agreed to continue the exchange on aspects related to the functioning of diplomatic missions.

"During the talks the Cuban delegation ratified once diplomatic relations are re-established to address its willingness to address substantial matters on the bilateral agenda including the lifting of the embargo, among others, with which it would make it possible to move to the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States on the basis of respect, sovereign equality and reciprocity."

The latest round of talks focused on logistical and other issues related to the embassies.

Particular points of interest were freer movement for diplomats and access to the U.S. embassy by Cuban citizens.

U.S. diplomats are not allowed to leave Cuba's capital of Havana without permission until now, while their Cuban counterparts are limited to Washington D.C. and New York.

Both sides have declined to discuss details about the lingering differences between them.

Cuba has indicated that it would wait until May 29 before making any announcement on embassy reopening.

Since the last round of talks in mid-March, The US has decided to remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Meanwhile, Cuban diplomats have found a U.S. bank willing to open accounts for them.

Reopening embassies are the first major step in reestablishing full relations between the two countries following a bitter Cold-War era rivalry that lasted over half a century.