Mail links between US, Cuba restored

Havana, March 17 (IANS) The mail links between the US and Cuba were restored with the arrival of the first mail flight in Havana.

A plane from IBC Air landed at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Wednesday, Xinhua reported citing the report of Cuban News Agency (ACN).

Carlos Rodriguez, an inspector from the US Postal Inspection Service, ceremonially delivered a letter to Carlos Asensio, president of Correos de Cuba, the state-owned postal company.

This letter formally re-initiated the direct sending of letters and parcels between the two countries, and was followed by an exchange of postal seals, specially designed for this occasion.

Correos de Cuba vice president Zoraya Bravo told ACN that from March 25, three weekly flights would leave Miami for Havana on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and that all post offices in both countries were now accepting mail to be sent on this route.

The restoration of direct postal services was part of the steps laid out by Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama to normalize relations.