John Kerry Meets Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Panama City

http://www.nbcnews.com/

The U.S. and Cuban foreign ministers sat down for talks Thursday night in the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the early days of the Cuban revolution more than half a century ago. Secretary of State John Kerry met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in a Panama City hotel, the latest step toward better ties since President Barack Obama announced a historic shift in Cuba policy on Dec. 17. The two men talked for at least two hours, sitting across from each other in a restaurant-bar in the hotel fronted by large glass windows. The U.S. government said the meeting went well.

The encounter took place on the eve of the Summit of the Americas in Panama, where Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro are expected to cross paths along with other leaders in the region. Obama appears to be close to removing Cuba from the list of countries that the U.S. government says sponsor terrorism.