MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to EFE news agency's Sunday report, Francois Hollande emphasized that he comes to the island with "great emotion" when speaking to the reporters upon arrival.
"It is also symbolic being the first western president to participate in the opening of Cuba to the world," the French leader said.
Highlighting the "profound historic ties between the French and the Cuban people," Hollande stated that Cuba will always have a "faithful ally" in France.
On Monday, Hollande will meet with his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro. The French leader will then visit Haiti.
Hollande's visit to Cuba comes amid a thaw of relations between the communist state and the European Union.
In March, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini became the first top EU diplomat to visit Cuba after EU-Cuba cooperation was resumed in October 2008.
