Cuba (formally) turns down offer to rejoin Organization of American States

[Mika]

Source: CaymanMama.com

Miami, Florida — The nation of Cuba has formally turned down an offer to rejoin the Organization of American States (OAS), confirming the strong opposition of Fidel Castro who has long insisted his island has no use for the organization.

The OAS conducted a vote last week to determine whether or not to lift a suspension of Cuba’s membership.

A statement issued Monday in the communist newspaper Granma said the Cuban government is pleased “with this expression of sovereignty and community” but reiterates that the country “will not return to the OAS.”

Read more: http://www.caymanmama.com/2009/06/08/cuba-turns-down-offer-to-rejoin-organization-of-american-states_200906084759.html

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This was expected. Cuba has been consistent on its position in this regard.

[MADem]

1. Well, they can't say they weren't invited. nt

[dipsydoodle]

2. Maybe they'll

join the EU instead. They're already pretty keen on the Euro. I think that would be quite cool having them as a member especially if they joined Nato too.

[Mika]

4. Yes. Every member of EU and NATO have condemned the US sanctions on Cuba in the UN repeatedly.

What, 14-15 years in a row now?

:hi:

[dipsydoodle]

11. I mentioned Nato

because if Cuba was a member that would give the USA the headache it deserves. :)

:hi:

[Mudoria]

3. No loss

[David__77]

5. Good. OAS is increasingly irrelevant.

It's a win politically that they were invited though.

[DURHAM D]

6. This reporting is dishonest.

The invitation was extended with certain stipulations/changes in Cuba. The Castro didn't like the changes.

[EFerrari]

7. No, it's not. Cuba has been very clear that it had no interest in rejoining OAS.

And as far as any stipulations about human rights and political prisoners, the US is in no position to make it a real issue.

[Judi Lynn]

8. The US and its demands had nothing to do with it. The OAS countries passed the resolution

anyway. They made it CLEAR they were not imposing any demands upon Cuba. It was the US which pressed for these demands, and the Latin American countries and Carribean countries voted for their resolution, just as various Latin American countries had been promoting well before this meeting.

[Mika]

9. The OAS invitation was unconditional.

Hil tried, but the LatAm and Caribbean nations wouldn't have any of it.

The OAS recognizes Cuba's open handed outreach to the world. They rejected the US's clenched fist approach.

[malaise]

12. The OAS is a useless right wing tool

Bravo Cuba.

[Mika]

10. This isn't LBN material? This announcement was just made!

:wtf:

The Cuba/OAS threads were LBN, why not this historic LBN announcement by Cuba?

WTF? Broken ankle stories, and non LBN North Korea speculation stories, etc etc threads stay, but this gets axed from LBN?

Warped priorities, imo. :mad: