As the U.S. and Venezuela seek to normalize their diplomatic relations, a group of American and Venezuelan officials met over the weekend in Haiti, taking the opportunity to overcome their differences. However, officials on both sides have not divulged many details about the bilateral talks.

A State Department spokesperson informed Latin Post that the president of Haiti, Michel Martelly, invited officials from both the U.S. and Venezuela to discuss the Caribbean nation's upcoming elections as well as its continued reconstruction.

The U.S. officials included Ambassador Tom Shannon, Special Coordinator for Haiti Tom Adams and U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Pam White. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez and National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello were in the other group.

Neither the U.S. nor Venezuelan governments revealed much of what transpired during the meeting. However, the Venezuelan government verified the two delegations met for more than an hour and a half at Haiti's presidential palace.

"The U.S. and Venezuelan delegations took advantage of this opportunity to continue our bilateral talks," the State Department spokesperson said. "The talks touched all elements of our bilateral relationship. They were positive and productive."

The Venezuelan foreign affairs ministry also said little of the meeting in a press release, saying it was held "within the reconciliation process led by the governments of the U.S. and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to normalize diplomatic relations in compliance with international law, sovereignty and self-determination."

The two nations have been at odds for over a year since the thousands took to the streets in February of last year, demanding reforms and also the removal of President Nicolas Maduro. The chavista government cracked down on protesters, arresting hundreds. Clashes ultimately led to the deaths of 43 people.

Since then the Venezuelan government has imprisoned leading members of the opposition parties, including Leopoldo Lopez, one of the nation's most charismatic opposition leaders.

The U.S. and many other nations have asked Caracas to free the political prisoners to no avail. It is uncertain whether the topic of political prisoners was discussed during the meeting.

Since the rise in tensions the U.S. has enacted sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials who are suspected of human rights abuses as well as other restrictions on the country's economy.

However, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has criticized the government's meeting with Venezuelan officials, among them Cabello who is under investigation for drug trafficking.

"‎By meeting with the Venezuelan regime's most corrupt official, who also happens to be under investigation as a drug kingpin, the Obama Administration‎ is sending a bizarre and confusing message to the Venezuelan people as well as U.S. prosecutors investigating him," Sen. Rubio said in a statement, adding that the meeting legitimized Cabello.

"These mixed messages from the Obama Administration are especially appalling at a time when Leopoldo Lopez and other brave Venezuelan political prisoners are waging a hunger strike against the regime of Nicolas Maduro ‎for its ongoing violations of human rights."

Cabello has rejected the allegations made against him, but the investigation into his alleged ties to the Cartel de los Soles continues.

The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for more information about the meeting as well as a comment on Sen. Rubio's statement.