(VOVworld) – One month after the EU and Cuba began negotiations to normalize their relationship, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius paid a historic visit to Cuba on April 12. The visit, which lasted just a few hours, signaled a new start in bilateral relations after a 30 years hiatus.
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| Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez (right) and France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius shake hands toward photographers prior to their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, April 12, 2014. (photo: news.yahoo.com) |
The last visit by a French Foreign Minister to Cuba was in 1983. Together with other EU countries, France terminated its partnership with Cuba in 2003. Fabius visited Cuba to discuss various issues in politics, economics, culture, and education.
Practical outcome of meetings on bilateral cooperation
Fabius’s visit conveyed many important messages. After an unscheduled meeting with President Raul Castro and talks with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Mr. Fabius said Cuba’s reform is on the right track. He appreciated Cuba’s role in the negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and its contributions to the success of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Summit (CELAC). Mr. Fabius repeated France’s appeal to the US to lift its sanctions on Cuba.
In economics, Mr. Fabius pointed out cooperation opportunities in energy, tourism, agriculture, education, and culture. France will send representatives to the International Tourism Fair in Havana in May.
Cuba and France will benefit from closer relations. Observers say France has less political and cultural influence and fewer business activities with Cuba’s neighbors. Cuba is enhancing its reform and has an important position in the region. Strengthening relations with Cuba will help France increase its influence and approach political, economic, and trade opportunities in this region and play a larger role in deciding the level of EU-Cuba relations.
Cuba wants to improve its relations with the EU and individual EU states while reducing the impact of the US sanctions and seeking more international integration.
Favorable premise for EU-Cuban negotiations
Beyond bilateral interests, the French Foreign Minister’s visit to Cuba will have a big impact on the EU-Cuban dialogue heading to the signing of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement.
Mr. Fabius said Cuba has no unsolvable issues with France. France is an important nation in Europe and its view can be seen as part of the EU’s stance.
Cuban-EU relations actually restarted in 2008 with dialogues on certain sectors. Early last month, Cuba agreed to begin negotiations on a new political agreement. If the discussions take place as scheduled, the two sides can continue to discuss trade and investment agreements by 2015. Mr. Fabius’ visit provides a foundation for these discussions.