Trips to Cuba planned by U.S. lawmakers have been delayed by the Cuban government.
Among visits delayed is one planned by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The Cuban Interests Section in Washington said some trips will go forward in the coming days, but others are postponed, unnamed sources told The Associated Press.
Obama administration officials said they were informed by their Cuban counterparts earlier this week that no congressional visits would be allowed until April 15. They spoke to the AP on condition anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.
The Cuban Interests Section rejected that account, saying some delegations would be arriving in the next days. Cuba is receiving a large number of requests for visits and is "arranging for the best possible dates for their visits," said a Cuba Interests Section spokesman, who demanded anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk publicly.
Cuba President Raul Castro's government has been scrambling to adjust to the possibility of new U.S. travel and investment in Cuba since he and President Barack Obama announced in December that the two countries would repair ties after a half-century of enmity.
Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., confirmed they wanted to visit at the end of the month, but the Cubans denied the request. Pelosi's office had no immediate comment.
IN-DEPTH:
- Poll: Americans Back Warmer US-Cuba Ties
- Sen. Marco Rubio Slams Cuba Policy Changes In Hearing
- Amid US-Cuba Thaw, Brief Spike in Cuba Arrivals
-- The Associated Press
