(VOVworld) – Cuban and US diplomats are gathering in Havana for a third round of negotiations towards full restoration of diplomatic ties. A closed-door meeting was held on Monday, the first day of this round, during which the two sides discussed the reopening of embassies in Washington and Havana before the Summit of the Americas, scheduled to take place in Panama on April 10^th. The US is considering removing Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism although this is not a prerequisite for normalizing relations.

US diplomats host Cuban delegates for the second round of talks in February. (Photo: Getty Images)

US chief negotiator Roberta Jacobson told reporters after the meeting that progress made during the first 2 rounds of talks has made her confident that the US and Cuba will open embassies in each other’s capital before the Summit of the Americas.