Clinton says Cuba not ready for OAS

Posted on Wednesday, 05.20.09
Clinton says Cuba not ready for OAS
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday
that Cuba shouldn't be allowed to rejoin the Organization of American
States until it makes political reforms, releases political prisoners
and respects human rights.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Clinton said
the charter of the Western Hemisphere bloc of nations requires members
to adhere to democratic standards that the communist government of Cuba
does not yet meet.

"Any effort to admit Cuba into the OAS is really in Cuba's hands," she
said. "They have to be willing to take the concrete steps necessary to
meet those principles."

"If Cuba is not willing to abide by (the charter's) terms then I cannot
foresee how Cuba can be a part of the OAS and I certainly would not be
supporting in any way such an effort to admit it," said Clinton, who
plans to attend the organization's annual general assembly on June 2 in
Honduras.

At that meeting, some countries want the organization to annul a
resolution that suspended Cuba's membership. Cuba was expelled from the
OAS in 1962 after the communist revolution that brought Fidel Castro to
power.

"We're hoping that the members of the OAS will abide by their own
charter," Clinton said.

The Obama administration has said it wants to engage with Cuba and eased
some sanctions but has called on Cuba's government, now led by Fidel
Castro's brother Raul, to reciprocate with reforms before moving ahead.
Clinton said those steps would include moving toward democracy,
releasing political prisoners and respecting "fundamental freedoms."

Clinton says Cuba not ready for OAS - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com (21
May 2009)

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1057745.html