Hollande Calls for End to US Sanctions Against Havana in Cuba

François Hollande, the President of France, on May 10, called on the United States to end its sanctions against Cuba during the first visit by a Western official to Havana since the improvement of relations between Washington and Cuba. He had previously emphasized that he would also discuss human rights issues with Cuban officials. The French President urged the lifting of sanctions that have been in place for half a century before meeting with the Castro brothers, Raúl, the current president, and Fidel, the former leader of the country. Hollande stated that he would do everything possible to ensure that 'actions that have severely hindered Cuba's development are ultimately stopped.' This is the first visit by a French president to Cuba since the country's independence around the Caribbean Sea at the end of the 19th century. Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Vice President of Cuba, shakes Hollande's hand. The presidents of the United States and Cuba announced last December that they would begin normalizing their relations. Following that, Barack Obama and Raúl Castro met in Panama. On April 14, Obama informed Congress that he intends to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, which would further help restore diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, the normalization of relations with Cuba and the lifting of sanctions against the country face opposition in the United States, many of whom are Republican politicians who currently hold the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. According to Agence France-Presse, Cuba claims that the sanctions against it have cost '100 billion dollars.' The French President also urged Havana to open its economy, stating, 'Of course, we want to see the easing of your [economic] laws and also create opportunities for your companies to manage their resources more freely.' Hollande had previously emphasized that he would not remain silent on human rights issues during his meetings in Havana, a topic that is among the roots of tension between Havana and the European Union. The United States and Cuba have also begun discussions on human rights issues since mid-April, which the U.S. State Department has stated took place in a 'professional atmosphere.'