Havana--Francois Hollande was due in Havana late Sunday, the first French president to visit Cuba in more than a century, cementing Paris's lead in the EU rapprochement with the communist island.
Hollande is also the first western leader to visit Cuba since a surprise announcement in December by Havana and Washington that the former foes would seek to normalize relations after over five decades of bad blood.
The aim of the trip "is that France be the first among European nations, and the first among western nations, to be able to say to the Cubans that we will be at their side if they decide themselves to take needed steps toward opening," Hollande told reporters before leaving for Havana.
The French president said the easing of a decades-long economic embargo by the United States will help Cuba's cash-strapped economy.
"Cuba wants to move on to a new phase, a new period, a new time for this island that was victim of an embargo," Hollande said on a stop in Guadeloupe, referring to the US sanctions in place since 1962.
Hollande said removing the embargo was key to opening Cuba up to the rest of the world, adding that despite the move toward thawing relations with Washington, economic barriers remain.
"There are still a lot of measures in place that block trade and business," Hollande said.
The French president is due to meet with his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro on Monday and his office has said he is available to meet with revolutionary icon Fidel Castro as well.
However, Havana has not confirmed that a meeting between Hollande and Fidel Castro will take place.
AFP
