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French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian wants to "strengthen" his country's relations with Cuba during a brief official visit that began this Saturday in Havana.
"We have very positive relations with" Le Drian told his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodríguez, who received him at the local Chancery
The Drian, arrived from Colombia, stressed the "very relations positive "of France with Cuba, which acquired" a dynamic "with the visits of former presidents Francois Hollande in Cuba in May 2015, and Raul Castro in France in February 2016.
The French Chancellor is the first senior government official in Emmanuel Macron on a trip to the island.
He is also the first European Foreign Minister to arrive in Havana since last April, Miguel Díaz-Canel has replaced Raúl Castro as President of Cuba
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The French Minister congratulated his Cuban counterpart for being ratified in his post there a week, that he has held since 2009, by President Diaz-Canel.
"You are already a veteran in your duties, not as advanced as (Sergei) Lavrov, but the good is going that way," he jokingly said in reference to the experienced Russian Chancellor.
In the same tone of jokes, Rodriguez replied: "but I did not venture into the national defense sector", referring to the position of Defense Minister "We very much appreciate the development of bilateral relations which are a priority for Cuba, "said Rodríguez.
Le Drian's program in Cuba includes an interview with the Minister of Commerce. Foreign affairs and foreign investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, and visit of the historic center of Havana, before leaving on Sunday
AFP
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