Mexico Aims to Improve Ties With Cuba

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- President Felipe Calderon's administration has held discussions with Cuba on improving relations after a series of diplomatic spats in recent years, Mexico's foreign secretary said.

"Mexico has a border with the Caribbean and it is a top priority to relaunch dialogue and political understanding," Patricia Espinosa said in a speech before the Senate on Tuesday. "With Cuba, we have had diplomatic contacts with the aim of promoting a rapprochement."

Espinosa also said that the government will work with diverse sectors of U.S. society to fight a planned 700 miles of fencing to be built along on the U.S.-Mexico border. Calderon, a conservative who took office in December, has opposed the proposed border fence.

Mexico has historically been friendly with communist-run Cuba, and is the only Latin American country that has never broken ties with Fidel Castro's government - despite U.S. pressure to do so.