Clinton says apparent deal for release of political prisoners in Cuba is overdue but welcome

Clinton welcomes reported deal on Cuban prisoners

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday welcomed Cuba’s reported promise to free 52 political prisoners.

Speaking to reporters at the State Department, Clinton said the Obama administration is encouraged by the apparent agreement, but she did not comment on its potential impact on U.S.-Cuban relations.

“We welcome this,” she said during a photo-taking session with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. “We think that’s a positive sign. It’s something that is overdue but nevertheless very welcome.”

The Obama administration has said it hoped to see an improvement in Cuba’s human rights record before easing the United States’ 48-year-old trade embargo against the island.

Clinton said she had discussed the prisoner release deal by phone Wednesday evening with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos after he attended a meeting in Havana between President Raul Castro and Havana’s archbishop, Cardinal Jaime Ortega.

The freeing of 52 political prisoners would slash the number held in Cuba by nearly a third. And it would be the communist-led island’s largest release of dissidents since Pope John Paul II visited there in 1998.