Kerry Meeting With Cuban Foreign Minister in Panama - US State Department

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla in Panama, US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf has announced.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — While no bilateral meeting between Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro has been formally planned, White House officials said on Tuesday that spontaneous discussions may occur.

"Secretary Kerry will meet with Cuban Foreign Minister Rodriguez tonight in Panama City, Panama, where both are attending the Summit of the Americas," Harf said on Thursday.

The Summit of the Americas, which is taking place on April 10-11, is a gathering of countries from the Western Hemisphere in which policy solutions to urgent regional challenges are addressed.

Pres Obama defends decision to pursue new relationship with Cuba: "When something doesn’t work for 50 yrs…you try something new."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 9, 2015

Cuba is participating in the 2015 Summit for the first time. In December 2014, US President Barack Obama said that the United States would welcome Cuba at the gathering.

Obama announced in December 2014 that Washington would normalize relations with Havana, ease travel and trade restrictions, but would keep the full set of congressionally-mandated sanctions in effect.

When it comes to social progress, the average human lives in Cuba. http://t.co/DXOWt7HNzu pic.twitter.com/hzvZZcb4CA

— GOOD (@good) April 10, 2015