Mexico and Cuba to Restore Ambassadors

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: July 19, 2004

HAVANA, July 18 - The Mexican and Cuban foreign ministers announced Sunday that they would reinstate ambassadors to each other's countries on July 26, normalizing official relations after a diplomatic spat nearly three months ago.

The two countries still had issues to work out, but they were moving toward reconciliation, the ministers said at a news conference after meeting on Sunday. "We've made progress, and agreed on the importance of working in favor of bilateral relations," said the Cuban foreign minister, Felipe Pßrez Roque.

Luis Ernesto Derbez, Mexico's foreign minister, called the move "positive" and said the countries would continue "resolving issue by issue."

The countries withdrew their respective ambassadors on May 2 after Mexico accused Cuba of meddling in its internal affairs by holding unauthorized meetings of its Communist Party in Mexico.