France will do its utmost to contribute to the lifting of the blockade, François Hollande, the first French president to visit Cuba in more than a century of official relations, affirmed on Monday in Havana.
During a lecture delivered at the University of Havana, Hollande recalled that every year French representatives at the UN vote in favor of the resolution that demands an end to this U.S. policy against Cuba, and renewed his commitment in this regard.
The President’s visit comes amid negotiations between Cuba and the European Union (EU) to sign a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, and coincides with the process to restore diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana.
“I believe that my example will be followed by others, and that you will receive many more visits by European leaders,” he predicted.
Furthermore, he praised the role of our country in the region and noted that to come here, “is to come to a country that represents a form of expression of dignity and independence for Latin America.”
Likewise, he stressed that, “Cuba always chose to provide high level education and quality healthcare. Today more than a million Cubans have higher education diplomas. This is one of the successes that results in your researchers being welcomed with open arms into the world's foremost scientific teams and this is even more remarkable when you consider that the embargo (blockade) has been detrimental to university studies.”
Several dozen French companies are currently operating in the country, perhaps the best known of which is the Pernod-Ricard group, exclusive distributor of Havana Club rum across the world.
Paris ranks as the tenth economic partner of Cuba and the levels of economic exchange last year amounted to about $180 million dollars.
Tourism to the island has been boosted in recent years with 14 weekly flights from France run by Air France and two by Cubana de Aviación, now joined by XL Airways.
France has also been affected by the extraterritorial application of the blockade. French bank BNP Paribas paid one of the largest fines in history ($8 billion dollars) due to its commercial ties with Cuba and other countries, which had a strong impact on the nation and Europe.
During his address, Hollande also praised Cuba’s efforts in the Colombia peace talks as well as the work of Cuban medical personnel in the fight against Ebola in Africa.
