Mexico, Cuba mend diplomatic relations

HAVANA — Mexico and Cuba said Sunday they will reinstate ambassadors in each other’s countries at the end of July, ending a diplomatic rift between Fidel Castro’s government and its former strongest ally.

Both countries withdrew their ambassadors in May after Mexico accused Cuba of meddling in its internal affairs.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and his Mexican counterpart, Luis Ernesto Derbez, said the ambassadors will be reinstated next Monday.

“We’ve made progress and agreed on the importance of working in favor of bilateral relations,” said Perez Roque.

Derbez, who arrived in Havana on Sunday, said, “There can be differences among friends on certain issues, but these differences can be talked out.”

Mexico has been the communist island’s strongest ally in the region.