U.S. and Cuba discuss migration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Cuban officials on Tuesday held their first talks since 2003 on Cuban migration to the United States, a step the U.S. State Department said showed its desire to work constructively with the Communist island.

Both sides raised long-standing disagreements in the talks held in New York, but said they had laid the groundwork for future discussions.

"Engaging in these talks underscores our interest in pursuing constructive discussions with the government of Cuba to advance U.S. interests on issues of mutual concern," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez, who headed the Cuban delegation, described the meeting as "a fruitful working session that validates the usefulness of the mechanism of these talks."

"Progress was made in the identification of areas in which both countries should work and cooperate to guarantee the implementation of these accords," he said in a statement.

Last held in 2003 and suspended by Washington in 2004, the talks cover mid-1990s migration accords that aimed to prevent an exodus of Cuban refugees to the United States such as the 1980 Mariel boatlift and another wave of boat people in 1994.

The agreement established the repatriation by U.S. authorities of Cuban migrants intercepted at sea, while Havana also pledged to clamp down on illegal migration.

The United States on Tuesday reiterated its desire to get access to a deepwater Cuban port to return migrants safely, as set out in the accords, and to ensure that U.S. diplomats can track the welfare of those sent back, the department said.

Washington also expressed its desire that Cuba accept repatriation of Cuban migrants who committed crimes in the United and are therefore ineligible to become citizens.