TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – DESPITE active lobbying by a majority of members, the 39th General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) has ended in Cuba not being reinstated as a member.

There had been much speculation leading up to the assembly that the United States may be considering allowing Cuba to return to the OAS after 47 years of being banned, but US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton quickly dispelled these rumours on Tuesday afternoon (June 2) after discussions on the issue had been completed.

“At this moment there is no consensus and there is no agreement to take any action,” BBC reported her as saying after the session. Clinton stated that until democratic reforms are made in Cuba, the US would continue to oppose its inclusion in the OAS.

The sharp dismissal from Clinton made her an isolated voice at the assembly and caused the US to draw harsh criticisms from other members.

The President of host country Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, referred to the Cuban ban as a “mistake” that must be corrected.

“If we were to leave this place without rescinding the decision of 1962, [the countries of Latin America] would...become complicit,” he stated.

Because the tradition of the OAS is to have a full consensus on measures it passes, reintroducing Cuba to the body is unlikely to happen unless the US compromises on the issue.

Meanwhile, Cuba has remained apathetic toward the issue and said that it would not join the OAS even if a compromise with the US were to somehow be reached.

Recently published articles in Cuba’s national newspaper, Granma, issued sharp criticisms of the OAS, describing it as a tool of the US to manipulate governments in the Americas for its own gain.

“Throughout this long history, there is too much involvement with death, genocide and lies for the OAS to survive these times. It is a political corpse and should be buried as soon as possible,” one report stated.

It was further stated in the same report that Cuba would like to see the entire OAS disbanded.

“Dismantling it and founding a new organisation of Latin American and Caribbean countries, without the United States, would be the only way for Latin America and the Caribbean to decide their destiny without endangering their identity.”