During the cordial meeting, both parties expressed satisfaction given the positive state of their countries’ bilateral relations, based on traditional bonds of friendship shared by the peoples of Cuba and France. The Army General highlighted the support France has provided in the fight against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States government on Cuba.

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by Jean-Pierre Bel, former president of the French Senate, and Patrice Paoli, French ambassador to Cuba.

On the Cuban side, the First Deputy Foreign Minister Marcelino Medina González also participated.

(Granma)

A battery of journalists followed him along the red carpet to the palace entry, where Hollande again embraced him and extended his hand, nine months after their meeting in Havana.

Following established protocol, the two posed for a few seconds for the benefit of photographers, and greeted the respective delegations, before entering the Ambassadors’ Room for official talks.

Once the private dialogue was concluded, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of several agreements regarding Cuba’s debt; the economic-commercial agenda; negotiations for the establishment of the French Development Agency on the island; bilateral cooperation; and the promotion of trade between the two countries.

Activities within Élysée Palace, a majestic building located in the heart of Paris, continued with the two Presidents making statements to the press, sharing details of the state visit, the official talks, and prospects for an even stronger bilateral relationship.

Photo: Estudio Revolución
François Hollande, said it was a pleasure to receive Raúl in Paris, on the first state visit by a Cuban President to this European nation, and thus returning the hospitality he enjoyed during his stay in Havana.

Among his first comments was a condemnation of the U.S. blockade, saying that it should be definitely ended, to allow Cuba to take its rightful place in the world.

Hollande emphasized that France wants to accompany Cuba along the road of more interaction with the world which the country has chosen, mentioning specifically the accord reached to alleviate Cuba’s debts with the Paris Club.

He recalled his visit to the Alliance Française in Havana, last May and highlighted cultural ties between the countries, along with cooperation in the area of medical research, also praising Cuba’s role in facilitating peace talks to end the Colombian conflict and the recent climate change conference in Paris.

After listening to his host, Army General Raúl Castro recalled the historic links between the two countries and thanked French authorities for the warm welcome he and his delegation had received, noting that the official talks held were conducted in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual respect.

Raúl reiterated Cuba’s willingness to broaden bilateral relations in all areas, highlighting the signing of a bilateral agreement on Cuba’s debt and thanking the French government for its significant role in the historic Paris Club agreement.

He likewise welcomed the desire expressed by French authorities to accompany Cuba and actively support its development, saying, “France has been, is, and will be an important associate for Cuba.”

As night fell in this city, which has seen to every detail to ensure a successful visit, the French President hosted a gala dinner for his Cuba counterpart, where the two leaders again described the visit as historic, noting its significance to a improved relations between the countries.

Thus concluded the first day of Raúl’s state visit which began at the Arc de Triomphe, and will continue Tuesday with a full agenda.

(Leticia Martínez, Granma)

Hollande arrived in Havana on Sunday night as part of a Caribbean tour that also included Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Bartholomew and Saint Martin, and left for Haiti on Tuesday morning.

In just 30 hours, he had a tight agenda that included meetings with university students, his participation in an entrepreneurial forum, the inauguration of the new venue of the French Alliance in Havana and walking Havana streets.

The French president met with his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, with whom he exchanged viewpoints about the positive state of bilateral relations and the vast potential to further develop them, as well as some international issues.

The peak of Hollande’s visit was his meeting with the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, with whom he held an interesting dialogue on the historic ties between the two countries and the international situation.

Cuba and France established diplomatic relations in 1902, although relations between the two peoples started long before, during the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), when French landowners settled in eastern Cuba.

Hollande is the first French president who visits Cuba in history.

The visit took place in a context marked by the process between Cuba and the United States to reestablish diplomatic relations and amid negotiations between Havana and the European Union (EU) to sign an Agreement on Political Dialogue and Cooperation.

Hollande, from the Socialist Party, committed to doing everything possible to contribute to the rapprochement between the United States and Cuba, and with the EU.

In addition, in a master lecture he gave at the University of Havana, Hollande demanded an end to the US blockade of Cuba, which has hindered the country’s development, and promised to work to have those measures finally lifted.

He recalled that every year, since the beginning of the 1990s, his country has voted for an end to the US blockade on Cuba at the United Nations.

The French president also acknowledged Cuba’s role in Latin America and in the peace process in Colombia.

“Coming to Cuba is coming to a country that represented a form of expression, of vindication of dignity and independence for Latin America. That explains why it plays an important role in several mediations and favors peace,” he noted.

Holland also noted the solidarity work by Cuban doctors, especially to fight the Ebola epidemics in Africa, lauded the high level and high quality of education in Cuba and underlined that the French Alliance here is the biggest one in relation to the country’s population, with an enrollment of more than 12,000 students.

The French president’s official visit was a good occasion to sign several agreements in the fields of scientific research, higher education, cultural promotion, health care, energy and the agri-industry.

Among the agreements signed were one between the group Total and the company Cubapetroleo to sell hydrocarbons, a deal between the maritime transportation company CMA-CGM and the society AUSA, and a letter of intent to increase healthcare cooperation, especially to fight vectors.

Asked by Prensa Latina on the importance of this visit, French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira described it as historic, and noted Cuba’s role in the Caribbean and its strategic position in the region.

For his part, André Chassaigne, chairman of the friendship group between the two countries at the French National Assembly, referred to the dimension and symbolism of the president being received by the leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.

Hollande was seen off at the Jose Marti International Airport by Cuban President Raul Castro.

Asked by the press about the significance of his visit, Raul said, “Coming to see off President Holland is an expression of satisfaction with the results of his visit.”

(Carmen Esquivel, Prensa Latina)

During the meeting, Fidel and the distinguished guest dialogued, in an amicable, cordial manner, about the historic ties between Cuba and France, as well as a number of important issues on the international agenda, including the prevailing complexities and challenges.

Fidel thanked President Hollande for being the first French head of state to visit the island, and commented that one of the first books he read as a high school student was an extensive text on the French Revolution, although, he said, at that time he didn’t much understand the importance of political studies and the complexities of historical studies.

(Diario Granma)

The President will arrive in Cuba from Guadalupe, as part of a Caribbean tour that also included the French overseas territories Martinique, St. Martin and St. Barts, and that will continue afterwards to Haiti. Hollande, of the Socialist Party (PS), became President of France in May 2012, after winning his opponent Nicolas Sarkozy -candidate of Union for a Popular Movement- in the second round of the elections.

Previously, he had held numerous positions, including first secretary of the PS, mayor of Tulle and deputy of Corraze.

(Prensa Latina)

The ambassador of the island to France, , highlighted that not only is this a historic event for being the first official visit of a French president to the island, but because the links between both nations go back to the 19th Century. The contacts go from history, to architecture, music and other fields.

As part of the program of the Head of State, there are scheduled official talks, an economic forum between companies of both countries and the inauguration of a new headquarter for the French Alliance, he said interviewed by Prensa Latina.

Igarza emphasized the objective is that concrete facts result from the visit: trade, cooperation, political dialogue, agreements in the area of educational and scientific exchange to result in a fruitful and lasting relationship.

Cuba is interested in the development of French investments in the island in prioritized sectors like agriculture and food, renewable energies, transport, biotechnology. A basic objective would be to interest enterprises in the Special Development Zone of Mariel, he added.

The diplomat indicated that Hollande�s visit is also part of the objective of his government to strengthen relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. This will allow him to enter a country that has given proof of its mobilizing capacity in the region.

Cuba�s power of call during the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), held in Havana on January, 2014, called the attention of French authorities, he extolled.

The final document of the meeting also declared Latin American and the Caribbean a zone of peace, free of nuclear weapons and were conflicts that may appear would be solved internally, among the nations through negotiations, peaceful means and without foreign interventions.

The Cuban ambassador stressed that the island is an agglutinating point. As member of several regional mechanisms of cooperation and integration, through the island can also be accessed other members of Celac and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America.

On the recent official visit to France of Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on April 20 and 21, he described it as very positive. It was an opportunity to review bilateral relations and prepare the most significant points of Hollande�s trip.

Rodriguez was able to meet the most important political figures of the country, as Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Prime Minister Manuel Vall and President Hollande.

It is usual for French authorities to receive their visitors according to protocol. The Cuban FM, however, set a precedence as he was received by the three highest officials of the European nation, because this does not usually happens.

Igarza added this was interpreted as showing the good health of relations between both countries

(Prensa Latina)