Cuba, US to restore direct mail links

HAVANA - Cuba and the United States will restore direct mail service between the two countries, Correos de Cuba, the state-owned mail company, said on Tuesday.

The company said after successfully coordinating technical, operational and safety details, the maiden flight linking the two countries' mail routes will take place on Wednesday.

The restoration of this service will allow direct shipments between Cuba and the United States, including ordinary correspondence, postal parcels, courier services and express deliveries.

Havana and Washington reached the agreement to restore mail services on Dec. 11, shortly before agreeing to restore regular commercial flights.

On Monday, Cuban telecommunications company, ETECSA, announced an agreement with American firm Verizon to host direct calls between the two countries.

The resumption of the mail service takes place days before a visit of US President Barack Obama to Cuba, the first by a sitting president since Calvin Coolidge in 1928.