Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque was received by the French Senate during his official visit to France, aimed at formally starting the political talks with the European Union (EU).

Gérard Larcher, speaker of the Senate, said that he is confident that Perez Roque’s visit will be beneficial for both Cuba and France in their interest to strengthen bilateral economic and political bonds.

The Cuban Minister previously held a meeting with the France-Caribbean Friendship Organization, which was attended by Jean Pierre Bel, president of the Socialist representation at the Senate, as well as by senators Bernard Piras(Socialist Party), Vice-President of the France-Caribbean Friendship Organization, and Jean Desessard (Les Verts or Green Party).

Perez Roque arrived in Paris this Thursday to hold talks with the EU, after that bloc decided to lift the unjustified sanctions against Cuba, reported Prensa Latina news agency.

The Cuban official is also scheduled to meet with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner. The French Chancellor is currently the semester president of the EU, and will be accompanied by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and Louis Michel, European commissar in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid.