The U.S. and Cuba will hold another round of talks to reestablish diplomatic relations from Havana on Monday.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson departed from the U.S. on Sunday for talks with her Cuban counterpart Josefina Vidal, director general of the U.S. Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the U.S. State Department, Jacobson and Vidal will discuss further efforts to normalize relations between the two countries and re-open respective embassies.

During a press call, a senior State Department official admitted the latest round of discussions does not have a "historic nature" and "not a whole lot of other activities" in comparison to the previous two meetings in Havana and Washington, D.C.

The senior State Department official reiterated President Barack Obama's hope to reopen embassies prior to April's Summit of the Americas. The official added, "Whether we succeed at that is part of what I'm going to try and help do since I like to do what the president wants to do. So that's what we're going to keep working on. But we'll see whether we can get to that."

The travel and caps of U.S. diplomats in Cuba has been a reoccurring topic during the discussions, and it's expected to have further debate in the latest Havana talks.

One issue that could affect the reestablishment of diplomatic relations is Venezuela. The U.S. and Cuba provided contrary responses about Venezuela, and the senior State Department official made it known there is "disappointment" with the Cuban government's stance.

As Latin Post reported, Obama issued an executive order on the "unusual and extraordinary threat" by Venezuela toward U.S. national security and foreign policy. According to the Obama administration, all "property and interests" of select Venezuela individuals are blocked from entering the U.S. The U.S. Treasury secretary will collaborate with the Secretary of State to further determine the Venezuelan individuals who will be affected by the executive order.

Affected individuals include those who have undermined the democratic process, violated human rights and significant acts of violence, prohibited or limited the exercise of free speech and peaceful assembly and are a current or former official of the Venezuelan government.

"Cuba has been, obviously, an ally of Venezuela's for quite a while. Venezuela's been an ally of Cuba in the past. But what I will say, and I want to be very clear about this, is it will not have an impact on these conversations moving forward," said the State Department official, reaffirming the United States' latest decision to sanction the Venezuelan government on alleged infringement on human rights.

In regards to Cuba's place on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list, the U.S. State Department's review is still underway, and the official stressed the topic "should not be linked" to the ongoing efforts to reestablish diplomatic relations or reopening of embassies.

The U.S. State Department did note they were uncertain when the latest discussions will end, but officials project that could happen by midweek.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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