US raises issue of detained US citizen in Cuba migration talks

The United States raised the issue of a US citizen detained in Cuba at migration accord discussions Friday with Cuban officials, dpa reported.

The meeting marked the third time the two sides have met since US President Barack Obama, who is pushing for high-level direct dialogue with Havana after decades of estrangement, took office.

Alan Gross has been detained since December 2009, and the US called for his immediate release at the meeting, according to a statement from Philip Crowley, spokesman for the US State Department.

Craig Kelly, US principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Western hemisphere affairs, met with Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez in Washington Friday. Last year, the two men met in New York.

"Engaging in these talks underscores our interest in pursuing constructive discussions with the government of Cuba to advance US interests," Crowley said.

The US wants to ensure that the US Interests Section in Havana can monitor the welfare of repatriated migrants and gain Cuban government acceptance "for the repatriation of Cuban nationals who are subject to removal from the United States on criminal grounds."