French President Francois Hollande has touched down in Havana, the first French leader to visit Cuba in more than a century.<br /><br /> He is the most high-profile Western leader to visit the country since the historic thawing of relations with the the US, and his visit aimed to transmit a message of EU rapprochement.<br /><br /> “After what Obama’s decision regarding the relationship between Cuba and the US, France along with Europe wants to be by their side during this process. With France, Cuba can have a faithful ally,” he told reporters at the airport.<br /><br /> Hollande, who was accompanied by 30 business leaders on the trip, is due to meet leader Raul Castro later on Monday.<br /><br /> The EU suspended relations with Cuba in 2003 over a crackdown on dissidents and journalists, but in 2014 it began talks to restore them.
