Pictures have been published of French President Francois Hollande meeting with a smiling Fidel Castro. Hollande spoke of the severe damage the US blockade has inflicted on the island and will do everything possible to see that it is lifted. The visit was the first of a Western European leader in over 30 years and more significantly, the first since the European Union froze political and cultural ties with Cuba in 2002. After meeting with President Raul Castro, Hollande announced a series of agreements in education, medicine, agriculture and trade. Cuban media reported that a deal was reached with France for oil exploration in Cuban waters, but the French oil company Total later denied any such agreement. teleSUR
