Speech by François Hollande, President of the French Republic, during state dinner in honor of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, at Élysée Palace, February 1, 2016
(Council of State transcript - GI translation)
Dear friend Raúl Castro;
Mr. President of the Senate;
Mr. President of the National Assembly;
Ministers;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
All those who are here today are friends of Cuba and wanted to be around President Raúl Castro and, together with me, express the strength of the friendship between the two countries.
I would also like to convey my gratitude for this visit, and to the important delegation accompanying the Cuban head of state. This is the first state visit to take place since the beginning of relations between Cuba and France. In this sense, this is a historic day. Last year I was the first Western head of state to be received in Cuba. Many others have followed me and almost the entire world wishes to accompany Cuba in its development.
I am very pleased to note the gestures of President Obama in recent months, but the most important thing remains to be done: the unilateral lifting of the embargo (blockade) which for too long has inflicted unacceptable suffering on the people of Cuba and obstructs the exchanges we could have with the country.
France was one of the first nations to denounce the embargo and blockade at the UN. Every year, our diplomacy supports in the General Assembly the Resolution on the need to lift the blockade.
Likewise, France is willing to bring the European Union and Cuba closer together, in particular with regard to the common position, which hampers exchanges and has lost all its meaning.
As I said in Havana, the French people have a fondness for your country, Mr. President. Indeed, we have ties that date back to the sixteenth century. I don’t wish to go back any further in order not to commit historical errors. We know that in the sixteenth century, French corsairs had already arrived on the Cuban coast. The city of Cienfuegos was founded by people from Bordeaux, and French architecture and culture are very present today. Later, many French settled in Cuba following the Haitian Revolution to introduce the cultivation of coffee, which we pursue to the present day through fair trade and we have just signed an agreement in this regard this afternoon. Later, ideas circulated with men.
We know what unites us: our two flags bear the colors white, blue and red; and your national anthem, ”La Bayamesa”, also shares some of the chords of the Marseillaise. We share the same devotion to independence.
José Martí, your national hero, evoked this during his exile in France in his famous encounter with Victor Hugo. The courage of the Cuban insurrectionists, especially the Cuban women, inspired some of his most beautiful writing.
Later, much later, in the second half of the twentieth century, we are aware of what Cuba represented to many peoples fighting for their liberation. And here there were women and men who supported your Revolution, and our countries, despite international tensions, despite certain differences, have maintained relations of respect.
President François Mitterrand received President Fidel Castro on a private visit, in 1995; but I reiterate that no Cuban president had previously made an official visit to France.
We are well aware of our differences, but what unites us is stronger. We don’t always have the same views on all issues, especially on human rights, but our friendship allows us to talk about them freely and that is essential.
Cuba is respected and heard across Latin America.
Cuba has played a vital role in the Colombian peace process, with negotiations taking place in Havana, seeking to put an end to a conflict that has lasted over 60 years. This solution would not have been found without the mediation of Cuba.
Likewise, the close ties that Cuba maintains with Venezuela are a trump card to ensure that dialogue prevails in this country and between this country and its neighbors.
And I cannot forget the solidarity shown by Cuba toward the entire continent in the face of every challenge. In particular, I think, in the Caribbean, where France is present with its overseas territories. This is why I say that France and Cuba are neighboring countries. We work with you to develop the region as a whole.
Finally, I would like to point out just how useful the voice of Cuba – and Laurent Fabius is witness to this – was on December 12 during the Conference on climate in Paris. But on that night of December 12, there were other negotiations, more discrete, but more essential to Cuba. It was the meeting of the Paris Club, which that night cancelled Cuba’s debt.
I wanted to fulfill the commitment I made to you during my visit last May. This decision will favor Cuba’s access to international finance and our own, in the first place.
The French Development Agency will make an important contribution. French companies – and I take the opportunity to greet their representatives here today – are willing to invest even more. The economic agenda which both countries have just signed establishes the list of sectors, which are more than a few: infrastructure, the food and agriculture sector, the environment, energy, tourism, and culture, I might add, as I wish to add the culture that has always united our countries.
Alejo Carpentier, the author of El Siglo de las Luces (The Century of Lights) and Los Pasos Perdidos (The Lost Steps), was a long-time representative of Cuba in Paris. The ideals of the French Revolution inspired his work and his friendship with Robert Desnos inspired his love for our language. Some will remember the participation of Alejo Carpentier in television programs, especially that of Bernard Pivot, who was greatly excited by what he told of his country and the ties that he wanted to establish with French culture. This cultural relationship was continued by the painter Wifredo Lam, whose works are presented in the Centre Pompidou, who lived in Paris and was also a friend of Picasso.
The French Film Festival of Havana, whose eighteenth edition was held in April last year, represents an exceptional space to share work.
We also wished to organize a French Culture Month this year in Cuba. Or rather it was you who wanted to do so. And we willingly and gladly accepted.
Events of greater importance are being prepared. Especially concerts. I know that there is a very famous disc jockey here who will become a reality for all Cubans and who is very familiar to us.
Our countries share the same devotion to education and science. I hope that more university students can come and go with greater ease, and we can receive many more. Likewise, we should work together in order to validate diplomas.
Last May, during my visit to Havana, I had the opportunity to inaugurate the headquarters of the Alliance Française, in a magnificent place, one of the most beautiful buildings in the Cuban capital, the Palacio de Gómez. I must remind you that thanks to Che Guevara, then a minister of the Republic, France was lucky enough to have this institution in Havana. Currently, 12,000 Cubans are learning the French language there. That is why this was also a very moving moment during my visit.
An educated country is strong and free, even if it does not have the riches of the world, José Martí said. Much can be seen in the case of Cuba, as of France, regarding our resilience in the face of adversity. And we demonstrated this once again last year, and you too, in other circumstances, have withstood these tests.
France welcomes you, dear Raúl Castro, convinced that France’s talents, resources and companies, will know how to accompany Cuba in its original development and will respect your identity.
The friendship between France and Cuba should be celebrated and I propose a toast to the friendship between France and Cuba, to you and to your delegation. (Applause)
PALABRAS CLAVE
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