OAS 'agrees to let Cuba rejoin' - BBC

[Mika]

Thanks to Tierra_y_Libertad for posting this in GD -> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5777830

OAS 'agrees to let Cuba rejoin' - BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8082146.stm

Foreign ministers of the 34-strong Organization of American States have voted to reinstate communist Cuba, unconfirmed reports say.

Revolutionary Cuba was suspended from the Washington-based organisation in 1962 over its "incompatible" adherence to Marxism-Leninism.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said earlier the US opposed reinstating Cuba without democratic reforms.

It is not clear if the ministers attached conditions to the decision.

No details as of now.

---

[magbana]

1. I'm watching the OAS meeting now and Tom Shannon just finished

speaking for the US. Everything was going fine in his speech until he said "we look forward to the day when a 'democratic' Cuba returns to the OAS. Jeez, isn't this back to square one?

[Mika]

3. Thanks. Do you have a link?

Sorry if i missed an earlier posting of vid links - been busy.

:hi:

[magbana]

4. Here's link, ORTEGA IS SPEAKING NOW

http://www.oas.org/OASpage/Live/webcast.asp?lang=ENGH

Insulza, Shannon, Ramdin. etc. are starting to squirm - scared to death about what Ortega will say. Ortega took note of the "cumbayah" atmosphere and send "whoa, Nellie" let's talk about the g.d. blockade.

[magbana]

2. CBC: OAS Votes to Allow Cuba Back into organization after 47 years

CBC
OAS votes to allow Cuba back into organization after 47 years
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 3, 2009 | 3:01 PM ET Comments1
CBC News

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/06/03/cuba-oas003.html

Foreign ministers from across the Americas voted Wednesday to have Cuba back in the Organization of American States, revoking a 1962 measure expelling the communist country.

The Associated Press reported the information based on diplomatic sources who requested anonymity.

U.S. officials have said Cuba's return should require democratic reforms. However, Cuba has said it does not want to return to the body, accusing it of being a tool of the U.S.

At a OAS summit in April, President Barack Obama said the U.S. envisioned a new relationship — including direct talks — with Cuba.

"The United States seeks a new beginning with Cuba," he said. "I know there is a longer journey that must be travelled in overcoming decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day."

Obama's remarks came a day after OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said he would ask his group to invite Cuba back after 47 years.

"I want to be clear: I want Cuba back in the inter-American system," he said.

Cuba was suspended from the hemispheric organization in a 1962 resolution for its alliance with the Soviet Union.

The resolution called Cuba's communist system incompatible with the 35-nation organization's principles and coincided with the imposition of a U.S. trade embargo.

That year, the OAS proved a critical forum for the U.S. government of then-president John F. Kennedy in gaining support for a quarantine of the island nation at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
With files from The Associated Press

=========================================
WALTER LIPPMANN
Los Angeles, California
Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
"Cuba - Un Paraíso bajo el bloqueo"
=========================================
__._,_.___

[magbana]

5. VEN'S FM NICOLAS MADURA JUST STARTING TO SPEAK 4:20pm edt

[magbana]

6. Ortega, Maduro delivering the one-two punch

Ortega set up the shot and Maduro is hitting over the net. Giving history of US imperialism in the Americas and revealing US dirty deeds.

Maduro giving a strong comradely defense of the Cuban revolution.

Maduro said - nice to have cordial interactions and chats but that is not enough!

[Mika]

7. Thanks for the link. I'm enjoying the hell out of this!

Viva Cuba!

[magbana]

9. It's too bad that I didn't put out the link this morning to

remind everyone. Maduro is a firecracker.

[EFerrari]

20. Well, thank you because I got to listen for a while.

Do you have an impression of what Ortega said or how he was received? :hi:

[Judi Lynn]

29. Bush had him delayed, standing around airports for ages multiple times

while airport people held him, pretending his papers weren't in order, he was on a no-fly list, etc., etc.

He was burning mad about this and why wouldn't he be? They were jerking him around just because they could. It was good that whenever they did this to him he made a loud noise, didn't just meekly knuckle under, hoping to get on their good side.

[rabs]

8. Watching Maduro

and he is letting Shannon have it.

[Judi Lynn]

28. That would have been priceless to see. What a shock it must have been seeing

Latin America speaking with its own voice, finally, instead of taking direction from Washington.

[flamingdem]

10. I'm glad I saw this thread

and found the live transmission. This is historical and a huge step towards normalization.

I bet Hillary knew full well that this would happen.

But even Hillary has to dodge bullets from Miami.

[rabs]

11. Mexican delegate

"today here in San Pedro Sula, this is a historic day."

[magbana]

14. Glad you were able to pick up the link to see the live

transmission. I think everyone knew what the final outcome would be since Cuba has no interest in returning to the OAS. I'm sure that Shannon had instructions to keep the game face on until the last minute because of the importance of such a stance domestically.

[magbana]

12. Reuters OAS Lifts Cuba Suspension

Here's the crux of it all:

"Washington had said Havana should not be allowed to return to the OAS until it embraces democratic principles and makes progress on human rights, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came under pressure on Tuesday from Latin American leaders.

In a diplomatic compromise, the group said Cuba's re-entry would be "the result of a process of dialogue begun at the request of the Cuban government and in line with the practices, purposes and principles of the OAS."

"OAS lifts Cuba suspension after 47 years
Wed Jun 3, 2009 4:05pm EDT

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SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (Reuters) - The Organization of American States lifted its suspension of Cuba on Wednesday, opening the door for the communist-run island to return to the regional group after 47 years.

The 34-member hemispheric body, meeting in Honduras, unanimously scrapped a 1962 decision that suspended Cuba as Fidel Castro's revolution took the island toward communism and an alliance with the Soviet Union.

U.S. President Barack Obama has taken steps toward a more open relationship with Cuba, lifting restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba for Cuban-Americans with relatives on the island.

Washington had said Havana should not be allowed to return to the OAS until it embraces democratic principles and makes progress on human rights, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came under pressure on Tuesday from Latin American leaders.

In a diplomatic compromise, the group said Cuba's re-entry would be "the result of a process of dialogue begun at the request of the Cuban government and in line with the practices, purposes and principles of the OAS."

That was an apparent reference to the group's stated mission to defend democracy in the Western Hemisphere.

Cuba has repeatedly said it has no interest in returning to the OAS, describing it as an instrument of U.S. policy in Latin America, but Cuba's leftist allies in the region pushed for the suspension to be lifted.

(Reporting by Anahi Rama; Editing by Kieran Murray)
"
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSTRE5526KJ20090603

[flamingdem]

13. The Washington Note "Hillary looked uncomfortable"

US Rallies Around Consensus that Cuba Should Be Welcomed Back to OAS


I have been watching parts of this online feed of a historic meeting today of the Organization of American States.

A final, persistent chunk of the Cold War is in the process of quickly thawing and breaking up in these very minutes. I just heard the Chilean representative issue "particular thanks to the delegation of the United States for rallying around this consensus ."

Wow. And then this bit just appeared in the Miami Herald:

Cuba's 47-year suspension from the Organization of American States will be lifted, thanks to an agreement reached Wednesday by foreign ministers assembled in Honduras, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Francisco Falcone told reporters.

The United States had been pressuring the OAS for weeks to condition Cuba's readmission to the hemispheric group on democratic principles and commitment to human rights. Falcone said there will be no such conditions.

''This is a new proposal, it has no conditions -- of any kind,'' Falcone said. ``That suspension was made in the Cold War, in the language of the Cold War. What we have done here is fix a historic error.''

This is significant. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looked uncomfortable during the proceedings as she apparently wanted conditions attached to any petition for Cuba to rejoin the OAS but failed. But this may have been just an act.

Behind the scenes, this initiative had help from Clinton's team and would not have moved forward if the United States didn't give a strong positive nod in acknowledging and acquiescing to the expectations of other Latin American states on this Cuba question.

This is excellent news and demonstrates Obama's willingness to replace inertia and incrementalism with some serious strategic shifts.

-- Steve Clemons

[EFerrari]

15. That's pretty funny. This writer gives all credit to the United States

when in reality, the United States was in no position to block this measure. The fiction of power must be maintained, I guess.

[flamingdem]

16. Really! lol WIth Obama and crew it's so transparent

It's funny. I guess it's just part of the diplomacy game to not lose face.. especially when you have soo much to lose!

[rabs]

17. Talk about a conference backfiring on the OAS' Insulza

You will remember that before the Summit of the Americas in April, Insulza had said the issue of Cuba would NOT be on the OAS agenda in San Pedro Sula.

The theme of this meeting was "Non-violence in the Americas." A safe theme, because who can be FOR violence in the Americas?

But this conference will forever be known for the lifting of the suspension of Cuba from the OAS, and for a modern-day declaration of independence by Latin America from Washington.

[EFerrari]

18. It's like trying to hold back the wind.

Al pueblo! :toast:

[Judi Lynn]

19. This is the most beautiful thread I've seen at D.U. Brings tears to the eyes.

Got here too late to see the live video, appreciated so much reading the comments.

Gonna save this one, for sure. It's such an important day.

Gotta run, am returning to read every damned word of this all over again.

Thank you for this wondrous, historic news. Hooray for the Caribbean and the Latin American people.

[EFerrari]

21. A good day, Judi Lynn! May we all witness many more!

[rabs]

22. Ditzy-Balarts and La Loca Ros-Lehtinen are going bat-nutso

:rofl:

"Today we witnessed an example of the Obama administration's absolute diplomatic incompetence and its unrestricted appeasement of the enemies of the United States. The OAS is a putrid embarrassment. Today, the member states of the OAS, including the Obama administration, unanimously voted to violate the OAS Charter of 1948 and its Inter-American Democratic Charter of 2001. This action constitutes a grotesque and unmerited betrayal of the oppressed people of Cuba."
---Reps. Lincoln and Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.)

:rofl:

“Now we know where the priorities of the OAS lie. Rather than upholding democratic principles and fundamental freedoms, OAS member states, led by the OAS Secretary General, could not move quickly enough to appease their tyrannical idols in Cuba. “Today’s decision by the OAS is an affront to the Cuban people and to all who struggle for freedom, democracy, and fundamental human rights. Far from strengthening the OAS, today’s resolution flies in the face of the organization’s founding charter. No U.S. taxpayer funds should go towards supporting this sham of an organization that once prided itself on its historic commitment to democracy and human rights.”
---Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.)


More reaction from the Herald's Cuban Colada

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2009/06/reaction-in-us-to-oas-decision.html

[flamingdem]

23. baballluuuuuuuuu

Those whiners have reached the end of their golden rope. Arribbbaaa!

[rabs]

24. "hearby ceases to have effect"

THIRTY-NINTH REGULAR SESSION OEA/Ser.P
June 2 and 3, 2009 AG/GT/ARC-1/09
San Pedro Sula, Honduras 3 June 2009
Original: Spanish

Working Group: Consideration of the
Draft Resolutions on Cuba




DRAFT RESOLUTION THROUGH WHICH RESOLUTION VI OF THE EIGHTH MEETING OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF 1962 CEASES TO HAVE EFFECT

(Approved on June 3, 2009 by the Ministerial Working Group of the thirty-ninth regular session of the General Assembly)


THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

RECOGNIZING the shared interest in the full participation of all the member states;

GUIDED by the purposes and principles of the Organization of American States embodied in the Charter of the Organization and its other fundamental instruments related to security, democracy, self determination, non-intervention, human rights, and development;

CONSIDERING the open-mindedness that characterized the dialogue of the heads of state and government at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and that in that same spirit the member states wish to establish a revitalized and ample framework of cooperation in hemispheric relations; and

BEARING IN MIND that pursuant to Article 54 of the OAS Charter, the General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization,

RESOLVES:

1. That Resolution VI, adopted on January 31, 1962 at the Eighth Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which excluded the Government of Cuba from its participation in the Inter-American System hereby ceases to have effect in the Organization of American States.

2. That the participation of the Republic of Cuba in the OAS will be the result of a process of dialogue initiated at the request of the Government of Cuba, and in accordance with the practices, purposes and principles of the OAS.

[Judi Lynn]

31. Too bad Jesse Helms can't be here with Jorge Mas Canosa to celebrate this event!

~~~~ click for photo ~~~~

When love was young: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Jorge Mas Canosa with their racist, fascist hand puppets, Jesse Helms, and Dan Burton.

Short but sweet, 47 years later, as soon as the sane people could manage it, a wonderful resolution which will stand forever.

[rabs]

25. Cuba says it will not return to the OAS

Communique read tonight on state TV:

Cuba has not asked nor wants to return to the OAS, (which is) full of a sinister and sellout history, but (Cuba) recognizes the political valor, the symbolism and the rebelliousness entailed in this decision propelled by the popular governments of Latin America."

Cuba no ha pedido ni quiere regresar a la OEA, llena de una historia tenebrosa y entreguista, pero reconoce el valor político, el simbolismo y la rebeldía que entraña esta decisión impulsada por los gobiernos populares de América Latina”, agrega el comunicado.

More in Spanish

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/elmundo/articulo143934-cuba-dice-no-vuelve-oea

[EFerrari]

26. Today is Raul Castro's birthday. Well, it's off to a good start.

[Judi Lynn]

30. Beautiful. Cuba's friends fought for Cuba's honor and won it back.

No doubt it makes a world of difference for Cubans seeing the countries willing to risk their futures with the US to get this wrongful isolation removed forever.

[Judi Lynn]

27. OAS: For Brazil's Lula, Cuba Is Not the Ugly Duckling Anymore

OAS: For Brazil's Lula, Cuba Is Not the Ugly Duckling Anymore
Written by Newsroom
Thursday, 04 June 2009

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the unanimous decision by the Organization of American States (OAS) to void the 1962 resolution that excluded Cuba from that body as a victory for the Latin American people and Cuba.

"I don't even know if Cuba wishes to come back to the OAS. They might not want it, anyway, they aren't marginalized anymore," Lula told reporters during a press conference in Costa Rica.

In response to other question, over if the decision strengthens the OAS, the president came back to talk over Cuba's entity exclusion during more than 40 years.

For the Brazilian leader the decision showed that common sense has finally prevailed: "Because nobody managed anymore to explain, nobody managed to understand anymore, how we could have a meeting of countries of the Americas while Cuba was not present, as if it were an ugly duckling."

Once again Lula urged the United States to lift its embargo to Havana: "Today, there no explanation in any part of the world for the Cuba embargo. The next step is to eliminate this ban little by little until everything comes back to normal."

More:
http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/10809/