US and Cuba agree to resume normal direct postal service after 53 years

Time:2015-12-28 Browse:69 Author:RISINGSUN
CUBA and the United States have agreed to restore direct postal service after a half-century rupture in one of the first bilateral deals since the former Cold War foes re-established diplomatic ties in July, Reuters reports.

Direct mail service between the US and Cuba has been suspended since 1963. Despite the ban, letters and other mail still flowed through Canada, Mexico and Panama.

The news comes ahead of the first anniversary of the December 17 announcement by US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro that they would seek to normalise relations.

"Both parties agreed to re-establish direct postal service between the two countries through the implementation of a pilot programme that will begin in the coming weeks, with permanent service foreseen in the future," Cuba`s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Direct mail talks had been underway even before detente, one of a number of areas of bilateral cooperation including drug interdiction, immigration and environmental protection.

Those matters were put on hold as the two sides worked on restoring diplomatic relations and opening embassies, which they achieved in July. Since then they have re-engaged on a variety of issues.