Sources: U.S., Cuba Expected To Open Embassies
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- United States and Cuban officials are expected to announce the opening of embassies, a major step in renewed diplomatic ties.
According to CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald, the announcement from both countries is expected to made Wednesday.
Both embassies would be in their respective capitals.
The U.S. and Cuba had broken diplomatic ties in 1961, years after relations between both countries had worsened in the 1959 Cuban Revolution.
On December 17, 2014, President Barack Obama along with Cuban leader Raul Castro announced renewed diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Since then, there have been four rounds of talks between U.S. and Cuban officials, paving the way for official renewed diplomatic ties with the expected announcement of the opening of the embassies.
The administration will have to give Congress at least 15 days notification of its intent to open an embassy in the United States.
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) issued a statement regarding the expected announcement, saying in part"There was little doubt that the Obama administration would pursue its goal of opening an embassy in Cuba no matter the sad reality on the ground. Since Obama's December 17th announcement, the State Department has failed to forcibly condemn the increase of repression on the island now that the Castro regime feels emboldened to continue its attacks against the Cuban people.....Opening the American Embassy in Cuba will do nothing to help the Cuban people."
