[a video about Cuba from the news collective Belly Of The Beast]

Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel has confirmed that talks are taking place between Cuban and U.S. officials.

According to Díaz-Canel, the exchanges have been led by Raúl Castro and involve international actors as well.

The Cuban president described the talks as respectful and delicate. He also stressed that any process must move forward on the basis of equality, sovereignty and self-determination.

Díaz-Canel stressed that this isn’t the first time Cuba and United States have engaged in talks of this kind, citing negotiations more than a decade ago between Barack Obama and Raúl Castro that led to a historic opening between the two countries.