French Foreign Minister Visit Raul Castro Of Cuba On historic Move
France's foreign minister met with Cuban President Raul
Castro on Saturday during the first visit to the island by such a high-ranking
French official in 31 years and a sign of the quickening pace of improving ties
between the European Union and Havana.
Laurent Fabius said he discussed politics, human rights,
market-oriented reforms in Cuba and bilateral relations in what he
characterized as "a long conversation" with Castro.
"We want to push forward our relations in the areas of
culture, education, economics and politics," Fabius, a former prime
minister, told reporters at the end of a one-day visit to the communist-run
Caribbean country.
"Of course, we have different points of view on certain
issues, which doesn't stop us from exchanging perspectives and moving
forward," he said.
Earlier in the day, Fabius met with his Cuban counterpart,
Bruno Rodriguez, various Cabinet ministers, Cardinal Jaime Ortega and French
businessmen.
Since Fabius took office in 2012, he has tried to shift more
of France's diplomatic focus toward winning contracts in markets where French
firms are traditionally weak, as Paris looks to find growth opportunities
overseas.
France is looking to expand its business ties with Latin
America and sees Cuba as an important player in the region, given that it
hosted a regional summit this year and both Brazil and Mexico are increasing
their presence in the country.
"There are many French firms already here, but it's
necessary that this presence is strengthened and our Cuban friends agree,"
Fabius said.
Fabius was scheduled to return to France on Saturday
evening, having previously visited Mexico.
Bilateral trade last year was $388 million (280 million
euros), according to the French government, involving mainly wheat exports to
Cuba.
France's Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius leaves
after the first cabinet meeting of the n …
Construction and engineering firm Bouygues, beverage maker
Pernod-Ricard, the Accor tourism corporation and energy company Total, all have
investments in Cuba and are among 60 French firms operating in the country.
France has also been leading efforts by the Paris Club of
creditor nations to resume debt negotiations with Havana, broken off in 2000.
The EU agreed in February to begin negotiations with Cuba to
increase trade, investment and dialogue on human rights in its most significant
diplomatic shift since it lifted sanctions on the country in 2008.
The talks are scheduled to begin on April 29 in Havana,
according to European diplomats, who said the French foreign minister's visit
would test the waters.
Cuba has been subject to a U.S. embargo for five decades. It
is eager to eliminate the EU's "common position," enacted in December
1996, which links human rights and democratic conditions to improved economic
relations.
To do so, the two sides will have to reach a new accord
agreeable to all 28 EU member states, including Poland and the Czech Republic,
which have taken a harder line on Cuba given their own communist pasts.
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