PARIS, France.–Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz, on the invitation of his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, arrived yesterday, January 30, to this city to undertake an official state visit, described as historic since this is the first time a high ranking Cuban leader has made such a visit to France or a European Union member country.
Welcoming Raúl upon his arrival at Paris-Orly International Airport, decked out for the occasion with French and Cuban flags, was Minister of Cities, Youth and Sports Patrick Kanner, and other government officials. Also present was Cuban ambassador in France, Héctor Igarza, as well as UNESCO’s representative in the country, Dulce María Huergo.
With a light drizzle falling, and a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, Raúl greeted the authorities there to welcome him and walked along a red carpet accompanied by members of the French Honor Guard.
Delegation members traveling with the Cuban President include Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a Council of Ministers vice president; Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, minister of Foreign Trade and Investment; Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra Díaz; and Cuba’s ambassador in France.
Raúl will complete a full work agenda here, set to include official talks with Hollande, the signing of accords, and meetings with several important figures.
The visit reflects the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries, first established in June of 1902, with embassies opened in 1950, and re-launched during a successful visit by Hollande to Havana this past May, the first such visit to the island by a French head of state.
