Resumption of ties depends on Washington

HAVANA -- Restoring Cuba-US diplomatic ties in time for a key hemispheric summit in April depends on Washington's willingness to create the right conditions, a senior Cuban official said Wednesday.

Gustavo Machin, deputy director for US affairs at Cuba's Foreign Ministry, indicated removing Cuba from a list of countries alleged to be "sponsors of terrorism" was one of the measures.

The second measure was removing banking restrictions imposed a year ago on Cuba's diplomatic mission in Washington.

"We consider these issues to be important to creating the appropriate setting (for) re-establishing diplomatic ties and opening embassies," Machin told reporters.

"It would make no sense for us to re-establish diplomatic ties with the US if Cuba remains on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism," said Machin.

The official, who is set to attend a second round of bilateral talks Friday in Washington to discuss the reopening of embassies, stressed that the Cuban delegation was heading to the meeting with a "constructive spirit."