U.S. and Cuban officials held diplomatic discussions in Washington, D.C. on Friday, and it has been described as an "open, honest, and sometimes challenging" meeting.

Roberta Jacobson, the U.S. State Department's Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, said the Cuban government's delegation agreed that the renewed diplomatic relations and reopening of respective embassies are "critical steps" for a "longer-term process" for the two countries to have normalized relations. The island's Foreign Ministry Director General Josefina Vidal led the Cuban government delegation.

"[Friday's meeting] was productive and encouraging. In open, honest, and sometimes challenging yet always respectful conversation, we addressed the requirements of each side and the differences we identified in our first discussion in Havana a month ago, and we made meaningful progress towards resolving them," said Jacobson. "While cognizant that serious disagreements between our governments remain, I am pleased to report that today we saw the type of constructive exchange that advances us toward a more productive diplomatic relationship."

According to Jacobson, Cuba will send delegations for separate consultations on human trafficking and civil aviation for next week. This March, Jacobson disclosed, a U.S. delegation will travel to Havana to discuss greater Internet access for the Cuban population and another meeting to exchange ideas and information about U.S. regulatory changes affecting Cuba. At the end of March, a meeting on human rights will be held.

Jacobson added, "Without ignoring challenges that remain, we are committed to the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, which will allow us to more effectively represent U.S. interests and increase engagement with the Cuban people. [Friday's] discussion was an important step in that direction. I look forward to continuing my discussions with Director General Vidal."

Jacobson reiterated that the topic of Cuba's placing on the U.S. State Sponsor of Terrorism list is a separate issue from the ongoing diplomatic discussions, especially the talks to reopen embassies. While the Cuban government views their potential removal from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list as important, Jacobson said such a review is still underway, but at a pace required by U.S. law.

In regards for a timeframe for the embassies' reopening, Jacobson said there is a possibility of reopening before April's Summit of the Americas.

"On the timing of this, I do think that we can get this done in time for the Summit of the Americas, and I certainly think that, with the kind of cooperation that we had today, I certainly leave those conversations today optimistic but committed and recognizing the work that still has to be done, but certainly not daunted by the idea that there is a desire to move forward as quickly as we can, and knowing that the summit is a good opportunity if we can get things done in time," said Jacobson.

Leading up to Friday's meeting, which was held at the U.S. State Department headquarters, the topic of human rights was not scheduled for discussion. Following the meeting, Jacobson did reveal the topic was mentioned "in a couple of ways." She said the need for U.S. diplomats to travel outside of the embassy and encounter Cuban society is important.

"I don't know if people consider that a direct human rights conversation, but it gets you into the issue of people in Cuba who we have always wanted to continue to have conversations with, and the broader civil society question of our ability to talk to, frankly, as many of the 11 million Cubans as we can," Jacobson said.

Jacobson did prefer not to disclose specific progress was made that would benefit the U.S.

"Suffice it to say that I feel that we made sufficient progress on enough of them that I think we came out here with a very positive statement; that I feel that some of them, quite honestly, are close to resolution," said Jacobson. "Others we have to take back to our respective leadership and talk further; some, I think, require more discussions because they're still not resolved. We may have some differences in interpretation on certain things, whether it's under the Vienna Convention or the way that things will proceed going forward."

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