U.S. and Cuba to Start Talks on Normalizing Relations, Officials Say

Dec. 17, 2014 (New York Times) -- The United States and Cuba will start talks on normalizing full diplomatic relations after decades of estrangement, American officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The revelation came as the Cuban government, citing “humanitarian grounds,” on Wednesday released an American contractor it had held in captivity for five years, a senior State Department official said. The step paved the way for a potential thaw in decades of tense relations with the United States.

The contractor, Alan P. Gross, boarded an American government plane and was on his way back to the United States, officials said.

President Obama plans to speak publicly on the case at noon Eastern time, the official said. News agencies reported that President Raúl Castro of Cuba also would speak at noon about relations with the United States.

American officials confirmed that three Cubans held by the United States were also being released. But the officials insisted that this was not a prisoner swap for Mr. Gross but was instead being treated as a separate arrangement.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/world/americas/cuba-releases-alan-gross-american-it-accused-of-spying.html?emc=edit_na_20141217