ALBA FMs Want OAS to Rescind 1962 Resolutions that Barred Cuba

[magbana]

"ALBA Foreign Ministers Demand OAS Redress to Cuba

Foreign ministers of member countries of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) asked for the OAS to suspend resolutions that lead to Cuba’s expulsion from the inter-American organization



By: Agnerys Rodríguez Gavilán, special correspondent

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2009-05-26 | 14:27:30 EST
Photo: Comity of the State Department of Venezuela.Zoom

CARACAS.— An Extraordinary Summit of Foreign ministers and high-level officials from the member countries of the Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas (ALBA) was held on Monday at the ALBA Caracas Hotel, in Venezuela.

During the meeting, Honduran Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas called on the Organization of American States (OAS) to correct the mistake of excluding Cuba from this inter-American mechanism, simply for having exercised its people’s right to sovereignty and self-determination.

Rodas said that they are asking the OAS to suspend the resolutions that expulsed Cuba from the organization and that the OAS make amends to Cuba and never repeat what it did in 1962 in violation of its Constitution.

“We also ask that the media outlets of the Americas begin telling the truth, and the truth is that the discussion is not about allowing Cuba to come back to this forum, but about demanding respect for its rights as an independent and sovereign nation, free to choose its political, economic and social system, without the interference of other countries,” said Rodas.

ALBA member countries are planning to present a common position, as a regional block, during the next General Assembly of the OAS, set for June in San Pedro de Sula, Honduras, where the topic of Cuba will once again be on the discussion table.

When asked about the supposed flexibility of the US Government and its position in relation to Cuba, Patricia Rodas said that, “Regardless of our relation with the US Government, which is long standing, commercial, diplomatic, one of friendship, etc., we have to say that the measures towards flexibility taken by the current US administration have more to do with the interests of the US people than with those of the Cuban people.”

“We believe that the main interest of the Cuban people is the unconditional and definite end of the blockade.”

Following the Extraordinary Summit, the Foreign ministers met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez at the Palacio de Miraflores.

Attending the meeting from Cuba were Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez; the head of the Foreign Ministry Department for Latin America, Rogelio Sierra; and other officials.
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http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/cuba/2009-05-26/alba-foreign-ministers-demand-oas-redress-to-cuba/