Cuba presented a diplomatic note to U.S. officials on Saturday agreeing to a U.S. request made last week to resume the migration talks, which President George W. Bush suspended.

It was a clear sign of movement in President Barack Obama's effort to establish a more cooperative relationship with Cuba, a former Cold War enemy. The communist nation also presented a note agreeing to a U.S. request proposing talks about direct mail service, which has been suspended for decades.

"The two notes are a very positive step forward," the U.S. official said. "Our goal has always been safe, orderly migration out of Cuba ... It's in our interest to resume these talks."

The official said the Cubans also indicated an interest in holding talks on counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism and hurricane disaster responses –areas where the two countries have had sporadic cooperation in the decades since the U.S. broke off diplomatic ties and imposed an embargo.

The word came as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a three-day trip to Latin America that will include a meeting of the Organization of American States, where a majority of Latin American members are expected to support Cuba's re-entry to the hemispheric group.