Cuba ties diplomatic renewal to US ending aid to dissidents

Cuba says it's demanding that the United States drop much of its support for dissidents on the island as part of the restoration of diplomatic relations.
A US delegation visited Havana this week to negotiate the reopening of US and Cuban embassies. A central US demand is unrestricted movement of US diplomats in Cuba.
The head of Cuba's delegation told The Associated Press yesterday that Cuba has linked granting that right to the US reducing support for dissidents. Cuba has long objected to the US offering Cubans Internet access and classes inside the US Interests Section.
Asked about free movement for diplomats, Josefina Vidal said that dropping such aid "wasn't presented as a condition, but, yes, we said that for Cuba, this consideration is associated with better behaviour.