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The
Washington File, December 16, 2002.
U.S. to encourage only safe, legal migration at semi-annual meeting
The United States and Cuba will hold the 18th round of semi-annual migration
talks on December 17, 2002, according to a State Department press release issued
on December 13.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher emphasized that the United States
is committed to the full implementation of migration accords that ensure "safe,
legal and orderly migration" from Cuba to the United States.
Following is the text of the press release:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2002
STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
U.S.-Cuba Migration Talks Set for December 17, 2002
On Tuesday, December 17, 2002, the United States and Cuba will meet for the
18th round of the semi-annual U.S.-Cuba Migration Talks. This meeting will
review the implementation of the existing migration accords. Delegations from
the United States and Cuba have met twice a year since 1994 to discuss migration
matters.
The United States is committed to full implementation of the migration
accords. While the accords are largely achieving their central purpose of
encouraging that only safe, legal, and orderly migration occurs from Cuba to the
United States, we will again voice our concerns about Cuban actions which impede
such safe migration and prevent family reunification. We will underline the need
for Cuba to issue exit permits to all qualified migrants; not to discriminate
against medical professionals in issuing such permits; and to reduce the
extremely high fees it charges migrants.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) | 
