The Organization of American States (OAS) is a 34-member organization – representing all the countries of the Americas except Cuba. It promotes democracy and regional cooperation on issues ranging from poverty reduction to drug trafficking.
But yesterday the OAS voted to lift the ban it imposed on Cuba in 1962 in deference to the Cold-War sphere of influence the US wielded at that time.
It is arguable, however, that the seeds of this vote were planted in 1999 when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made it his mission not only to challenge the US president for regional leadership but also to deify his mentor Fidel Castro and return Cuba to the family of regional nations. And nothing demonstrated how formidable a challenger Chavez would be in this respect quite like the way he managed in 2005 to get his designated candidate elected head of the OAS over the candidate President George W. Bush designated.
Now comes the lifting of this ban over the objection of President Barack Obama; notwithstanding his pledge to improve ties with Cuba.
The Cold War has ended this day in San Pedro Sula. We begin a new era of fraternity and tolerance.
(Honduran President Manuel Zelaya)
To be fair, however, I suspect that regional leaders only made this move after receiving back-channel indications from Washington that Obama supports it. And everyone understands why it is politically untenable for him to declare so publicly … just now.
I am convinced that, if reelected, Obama will seal his legacy by lifting the embargo and normalizing relations with Cuba.
[Fifth Summit of the Americas: managing expectations, TIJ, April 17, 2009]
Frankly, OAS heads of state are just laying the groundwork for what they all expect Obama to do in due course; i.e., lift the 60-year US embargo against Cuba.
And no matter their public display of indifference to this historic vote, I suspect the Castros are privately filled with glee and vindication over what their champion Chavez has hailed as “a great victory.”
Related commentaries:
America’s shrinking sphere of influence
Fifth Summit of the Americas…
EU lifts sanctions…US will follow
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