Heller part of U.S. Senate delegation meeting with officials in Cuba

Associated Press

Friday, June 26, 2015 | 9:32 a.m.

HAVANA — A bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators was in Cuba on Friday to meet with top government officials and others to discuss the ongoing rapprochement between the two countries.

The United States and Cuba announced on Dec. 17 they would move to restore diplomatic ties that were severed more than 50 years ago, but talks on reopening embassies have yet to yield an agreement six months later.

Asked when that might happen, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy said, "the sooner the better."

"I'm glad to see things are changing between our countries, and the more they change, the faster they change, the better for both countries," he said in brief remarks as the lawmakers left their Havana hotel and boarded a bus.

Leahy, who has traveled to Cuba multiple times, was leading a group that also included fellow Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland and Republican Dean Heller of Nevada.

The senators were scheduled to meet later Friday with Cuba's first vice president and heir-apparent to Raul Castro, Miguel Diaz-Canel.

A statement from the U.S. State Department said they also would meet with religious leaders, ambassadors and others in Havana and the eastern city of Santiago.