Chicago Tribune

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA—Cuba and Panama agreed to restore consular relations Friday, taking a step toward full diplomatic ties at a meeting on the sidelines of an Ibero-American summit.

The agreement came a day after the summit nations, including Panama, agreed to condemn the action that led to the break in late August: Panama’s release of four Cuban exiles accused of trying to kill Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Panama’s president at the time, Mireya Moscoso, pardoned the men just days before leaving office, outraging Cuba and ignoring a Venezuelan arrest warrant for the group’s leader, Luis Posada.

The reconciliation between Panama and Cuba came during a meeting between new Panamanian President Martin Torrijos and Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.