Raul Castro Met with Special Envoy of French President

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 26 (acn) Cuban President Raul Castro held talks on Wednesday with Jack Lang, special envoy of France´s President Nicolas Sarkozy.

During their meeting, Jack Lang expressed the willingness of the French President to boost bilateral relations between Paris and Havana, and to enhance the bonds between Cuba and the European Union in a context of mutual respect, Granma newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, Raul Castro appreciated the initiative of the French President and affirmed Cuba´s interest in revitalizing traditional political, economic and cooperation relations in the benefit of both countries.

The Cuban President also expressed his willingness to maintain political dialog between Cuba and the European Union, which began in October 2008 in Paris, on the basis of mutual respect.

The encounter, which took place in a friendly and cordial ambiance, was also attended by French ambassador to Havana, Frederic Dore; Lang´s wife Ms. Monique Lang, and on the Cuban part, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.

Jack Lang is a renowned political personality in France. He was Culture and Education Minister under the Francois Mitterrand administration; he has also been a lawmaker and chair of the French Parliament´s Foreign Affairs Committee.

(Recibió Raúl a Enviado Especial del Presidente de Francia)