United States and Cuba To Discuss Financial Claims On 8 December 2015

United States and Cuba Hold Claims Talks In Havana

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

December 7, 2015

The United States and Cuba will hold their first government-to-government claims discussion in Havana on December 8. The U.S. delegation will be led by Mary McLeod, Acting Legal Adviser for the U.S. Department of State. This initial meeting will allow the two sides to exchange information on a wide variety of claims. These include claims of U.S. nationals that were certified by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, claims related to unsatisfied U.S. court judgments against Cuba, and claims of the United States Government. The Government of Cuba has also raised claims against the United States related to the embargo. The meeting is the first step in what we expect to be a long and complex process, but the United States views the resolution of outstanding claims as a top priority for normalization.

The reestablishment of diplomatic relations allows us to more effectively represent U.S. interests and values in Cuba and strengthen our ties with the Cuban people.