Obama, Castro discuss Pope Francis' visit

US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro discussed the new US trade regulations aimed to ease the restrictions on travel and investments in Cuba, the Cuban government said Friday.

"President Raul Castro stressed the need to deepen the reach [of new regulations] and to eliminate definitively the blockade policy - for the benefit of both countries," the statement said, referring to US regulations announced earlier on Friday.

"They also spoke about the imminent visit of his Holiness Pope Francisco to Cuba and the United States, recognizing his contribution to the start a new stage in bilateral relations," the statement added.

Pope Francis played a crucial role in secret negotiations between Washington and Havana, which eventually lead to reestablishing of diplomatic ties. The leader of Catholic Church even offered the Vatican as neutral location for the talks.

"The two presidents commended the role that Pope Francis has played in advancing relations between our countries," the White House said in a separate statement.

The Catholic pontiff is scheduled to arrive to Cuba on Saturday, for a diplomatic visit. After spending three days on the Communist island, he is to leave for the United States, where he is expected to speak in Congress.

Deep divides

The Friday phone call was the first talk between Obama and Castro that has been made public since their meeting in April in Panama City.

On Friday, Havana also appointed veteran diplomat Jose Cabanas as the ambassador to the United States, the first official Cuban envoy since the diplomatic relations were broken off in 1961.

Despite the improved relations, the two countries are still in deep disagreement on a series of topics. Among the key issues is the economic embargo, which is being gradually weakened by the Obama administration. The Cuban government wants it to be lifted completely; however, this step would be fiercely opposed in the Republican-controlled US Congress.

Washington, on the other hand, is concerned about Havana's human rights record.

"The leaders discussed steps that the United States and Cuba can take, together and individually, to advance bilateral cooperation, even as we will continue to have differences on important issues and will address those differences candidly," the White House said.

dj/sms (Reuters, AP, dpa)