Washington, February 24 (RHC) -- U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, following her recent trip to Cuba as part of a Democratic congressional delegation, said it is in the best interests of both countries to move toward normalizing relations.

On December 17th, U.S. President Barack Obama called for the opening of an embassy in Cuba and said he hopes for the lifting of decades old economic sanctions.

“We can’t be buried in the past. We have to move into the future,” DeLauro said. “We have 50 years of policy that has failed.” The U.S. congresswoman added that there are difficult issues still to be worked out.

DeLauro's statements came as bilateral talks between the two countries are planned for Friday, February 27th in Washington. The Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson will host a delegation from the Cuban government led by Josefina Vidal, general director of the U.S. Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss re-establishing diplomatic relations.

The talks will take place at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. and will focus on matters related to reopening embassies, including the functions of diplomats in the respective countries.