San Pedro Sula, Honduras - The United States was evaluating Monday the possibility of joining the majority proposal to revoke the suspension of Cuba from the Organization of American States. Lewis Anselem, alternate representative of the United States at the OAS, told reporters in San Pedro Sula that his delegation might withdraw its own proposal for the OAS General Assembly, set to meet Tuesday and Wednesday in the Honduran city.
Cuba was suspended from OAS in 1962, at the behest of the United States, over Havana's Marxist-Leninist ideology.
The majority proposal, which has the support of at least 26 of the 34 members of OAS, holds two aspects, according to Honduran representative Carlos Sosa.
On the one hand, he said, it would revoke the suspension of Cuba.
The second stage, he added, "depends on Cuban government decisions." Should Havana request to return to OAS - something it has said it does not wish to do, - the definitive decision is set to be up to the General Assembly, "in line with the principles, purposes, proceedings and consensus practices" of the inter-American system.
This is an implicit reference to the democratic principles established by OAS in documents like the Democratic Charter of 2001.
Anselem noted, however, that Washington would only accept this proposal in the presence of a "clear document" that clearly defines the requirements rather than an an an "abstract" reference to the issue of democracy. The US regards it as crucial that all members of the OAS have democratically-elected governments, as stated in the OAS charter.
Negotiations were ongoing late Monday in San Pedro Sula. Even if the United States withdrew its proposal, there would remain an alternative motion filed by Nicaragua on behalf of a group of leftist countries including Venezuela. This proposes to revoke the unconditional suspension of Cuba.
Diplomats were trying to avoid coming to a vote on the thorny issue of Cuba. Decisions at the OAS General Assembly are usually made by consensus to avoid open clashes between members.
The Cuban government has insisted time and again that it has no interest in returning to the organization. However, most members of OAS agree that the suspension of Cuba is obsolete in the post-Cold War world.
