Washington, Jun 30 (EFE).– The United States and Cuba are preparing to announce that they have reached an agreement to reestablish diplomatic relations and open embassies in each other’s capitals, White House officials said Tuesday.

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry will speak about the matter very soon, a White House official who requested anonymity told reporters.

The announcement will come more than six months after Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro surprised the world with their historic announcement on Dec. 17 that they were beginning a process to reestablish diplomatic relations, which were broken off in 1961.

Since then, there have been four rounds of formal negotiations, two in Havana and two in Washington, to work out the details of reopening the embassies and other matters.

Opening the diplomatic headquarters will bring to a close the phase of reestablishing diplomatic relations, but not complete normalization of relations, given that for the latter to occur, Havana says, the U.S. economic embargo imposed on the communist island in 1962 must be lifted and the territory comprising the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo must be returned to Cuba, a pair of issues that will be difficult to resolve.

The White House official did not specify on Tuesday if a date has been set for reopening the embassies, but Kerry is expected to visit Havana when that ceremony is held.

That trip, which would be that of the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the island in more than half a century, may not be imminent, given that Kerry is currently in Vienna for the nuclear talks with Iran that could go on another week. EFE