U.S.-Cuba Migration Talks Scheduled for June 6, 2003

On Friday, June 6, 2003, the United States and Cuba will meet in New York City for round 19 of the semi-annual U.S.-Cuba Migration Talks. This meeting will review the implementation of the existing migration accords. Delegations from the United States and Cuba have met generally twice a year since 1994 to discuss migration matters.

The United States is committed to full implementation of the migration accords. While the accords are largely achieving their central purpose of providing that only safe, legal, and orderly migration occurs from Cuba to the United States, we will again voice our concerns about Cuban actions which impede such safe migration and prevent family reunification. We will underline the need for Cuba to issue exit permits to all qualified migrants; not to discriminate against medical professionals in issuing such permits; and to reduce the extremely high fees it charges migrants.