The Foreign ministers of the Organization of American States have voted to lift Cuba’s suspension, which would pave the way for it to rejoin the group. To recap a bit of the history, Cuba was suspended from the 34-member OAS in 1962 over its “incompatible” adherence to Marxism-Leninism. The US secretary of state, who left Honduras before the vote, had urged democratic reforms as a condition. The move came hours after former president Fidel Castro again said Cuba had no interest in rejoining the OAS.
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister, Fander Falconi, said the decision was made “without conditions” but that it set mechanisms for Cuba’s return including its agreement to comply with OAS conventions on human rights and other issues.