US to Hold ‘Additional Conversations’ With Cuban Government in May

The US government plans to have more talks with Cuban officials in May 2015 in order to advance the normalization of relations between the two countries, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a briefing on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the restoration of relations between the United States and Cuba will be a slow process.

“There are additional conversations that are planned between now and the end of May,” Earnest said. “We are going to continue to advance this [normalization] process.”

However, Cuban leader Raul Castro announced on Tuesday that Cuba and the United States will exchange ambassadors after May 29, 2015.

During the briefing, Earnest did not comment on the timeframe for exchanging ambassadors mentioned by Castro, but admitted that US President Barack Obama may have a list of potential ambassadorial candidates in mind.

BREAKING: Cuba, US to name ambassadors after May 29 — Raul Castro http://t.co/epq3dqAdNg pic.twitter.com/Wx3I9A6yGO

— RT (@RT_com) May 12, 2015

In December 2014, Obama announced his intention to normalize US-Cuba relations, which were at their lowest point following the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Obama also said he wanted to re-open the US embassy in Havana and lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba.