The Heat discusses the historic meetings between US, Cuban officials

Cuba

The highest-ranking U.S. delegation to visit Havana in 35 years sat down with Cuban officials this week to hash out the details of restoring ties between the two countries after a half-century of estrangement.

The delegation was the first meeting since President Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro made a surprising announcement to normalize relations. Roberta Jacobson, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, said the talks had been “positive and productive,” with both sides discussing issues that need to be resolved before embassies can be opened.

“You know in Cuba we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. When what you’re doing doesn’t work for 50 years, it’s time to try something new,” President Barack Obama said Tuesday during his State of the Union address.

The U.S. has said the resumption of full diplomatic relations depends on how quickly its requests are met. Meanwhile, Cuba is demanding that the country be removed from a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. CCTV America’s Michael Voss reported this story from Havana.

The Heat interviewed U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., about the U.S. relationship with Cuba. Lee, a longtime opponent of the U.S. embargo with Cuba, began working on the Cuban issue in 1977 and has traveled to the island nation more than 20 times.

The Heat also interviewed a panel of experts about historic meeting this week between U.S. and Cuban officials in Havana: