Editing Foreign relations of Cuba (section)

=== Organization of American States ===
{{Main|Cuban relations with the Organization of American States}}

Cuba was formerly excluded from participation in the [[Organization of American States]] under a decision adopted by the Eighth Meeting of Consultation in [[Punta del Este]], [[Uruguay]], on 21 January 1962. The resolution stated that as Cuba had officially identified itself as a Marxist–Leninist government, it was incompatible with "the principles and objectives of the inter-American system."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cidh.oas.org/countryrep/Cuba79eng/intro.htm |title=Cuba 1979 – Introduction |publisher=Cidh.oas.org |access-date=2012-03-23}}</ref> This stance was frequently questioned by some member states. This situation came to an end on 3 June 2009, when foreign ministers assembled in [[San Pedro Sula]], [[Honduras]], for the OAS's 39th [[General Assembly of the Organization of American States|General Assembly]], passed a vote to lift Cuba's suspension from the OAS. In its resolution ([http://www.oas.org/consejo/sp/AG/ag04632e01.doc AG/RES 2438]), the General Assembly decided that:

# Resolution VI, [...] which excluded the Government of Cuba from its participation in the Inter-American system, hereby ceases to have effect
# The participation of the Republic of Cuba in the OAS will be the result of a process of dialogue initiated at the request of the Government of Cuba, and in accordance with the practices, purposes, and principles of the OAS.

The reincorporation of Cuba as an active member had arisen regularly as a topic within the inter-American system (e.g., it was intimated by the outgoing ambassador of Mexico in 1998)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/OASpage/press2002/en/Press98/020498ce.htm |title=Mexico Calls for Cuba's Reinstatement into the |publisher=OAS |date=1998-02-04 |access-date=2012-03-23}}</ref> but most observers did not see it as a serious possibility while the Socialist government remained in power. On 6 May 2005, [[President of Cuba|President]] Fidel Castro reiterated that the island nation would not "be part of a disgraceful institution that has only humiliated the honor of Latin American nations".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B2355B35C-068E-4DFE-879E-3E8836A38EA4%7D&language=EN |title=Fidel Castro: OAS Is an Instrument of the US – Prensa Latina |publisher=Plenglish.com |date= |access-date=2012-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011190122/http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B2355B35C-068E-4DFE-879E-3E8836A38EA4%7D&language=EN |archive-date=2008-10-11 }}</ref>

In an editorial published by ''[[Granma (newspaper)|Granma]]'', Fidel Castro applauded the Assembly's "rebellious" move and said that the date would "be recalled by future generations."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/junio/mier3/Reflections-2june.html |title=The Trojan horse |author=Fidel Castro |work=[[Granma (newspaper)|Granma]] |date=2009-06-02 |access-date=2009-06-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622101120/http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/junio/mier3/Reflections-2june.html |archive-date=2011-06-22 }}</ref> However, a Declaration of the Revolutionary Government dated 8 June 2009 stated that while Cuba welcomed the Assembly's gesture, in light of the Organization's historical record  "Cuba will not return to the OAS".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/junio/lun8/Declaration.html |title=Declaration of the Revolutionary Government |work=[[Granma (newspaper)|Granma]] |date=2009-06-08 |access-date=2009-06-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219170708/http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/junio/lun8/Declaration.html |archive-date=2012-02-19 }}</ref>

Cuba joined the [[Latin American Integration Association]] becoming the tenth member (out of 12) on 26 August 1999. The organization was set up in 1980 to encourage trade integration association. Its main objective is the establishment of a common market, in pursuit of the economic and social development of the region.

On September 15, 2006, Cuba officially took over leadership of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] during the 14th summit of the organization in Havana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2448962&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 |title=ABC News: ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |access-date=2012-03-23}}</ref>