A changing of the guard in Latin America: Outgoing president of the
Community of Latin American and Carribean
States, Chilean President
Sebastian Pinera, with CELAC's new chief, Cuban dictator Raul Castro.
Cuba as President
of CELAC: '51 Years of U.S. Isolation Ended' (El
Universal, Mexico)
"Upon being
seated as temporary president of Community of the Latin American and Caribbean
States, Cuba closed the chapter of continental isolation which began 51 years
ago. Its Marxist-Leninist government was called 'incompatible with inter-American
values.' One by one - and with the exception of Mexico - American
governments broke relations with Cuba. ... Now, half a century later and with
the same communist ideology, the Cuban regime has broken through the policy of
continental exclusion animated by the United States."
SAN JOSE: Paraguay, Nicaragua, Panama and Haiti have
presided over inter-American governmental councils and forums, and despite their
histories of human rights violations and disrespect for democracy they embodied,
such regimes were openly supported by the United States. Why should it complain
now that Cuba, which has also been criticized for its record on human rights
and democracy, is chairing the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States?
In Chile on January 28, upon being seated as temporary
president of CELAC, Cuba closed the chapter of
continental isolation which began 51 years ago. On January 21, 1962, Havana was
suspended
by the Organization of American States (OAS) under allegations that it had aligned
itself with the socialist bloc in East Europe (led by the now-defunct Soviet
Union). Its Marxist-Leninist government was called "incompatible with inter-American
values." One by one - and with the exception of Mexico - American
governments broke
relations with Cuba.
Now, half a century later and with the same communist
ideology, the Cuban regime has broken through the policy of continental
exclusion animated by the United States.
"Awarding Cuba the CELAC
presidency demonstrates the independence and maturity possessed by the region to
govern itself - without depending on the United States. Justice has been done
with Cuba," Sandino Asturias, coordinator of the Center for the Study of
Guatemala, told El Universal.
For his part, Luis Guillermo Solis, a former Costa Rican
diplomat and university professor, told El
Universal that, "as far as international doctrine" and the "understandings"
among such bodies, the fact that Cuba is presiding over CELAC
"should not be a confrontational or disruptive factor."
"In this and other multilateral fora,
the presidency acts on positions that are taken by consensus. Cuba holds the presidency
on behalf of the group," Solis said.
When at the recent CELAC summit he
was installed in office, Cuba President Raul Castro avoided any mention of the
OAS, which Havana has referred to as a "ministry of colonies" in the
service of the White House and the OAS Democratic Charter, which bases
participation on members being pluralistic and multiparty democracies. Cuba has
a one-party system, and dissent is illegal.
Castro promised, "We will act with total compliance"
to the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of fostering ties
between nations." And, in an implicit message to the White House, he proclaimed,
"we reject interference, aggression, threats and the use of force, and
will promote dialogue, cooperation and solidarity."
Human Rights Watch, which is based in Washington [New York, actually],
stated that the designation of Cuba as CELAC president
was "unfortunate" and a "grave error," and called Cuba a
"totalitarian regime." HRW said what the
region requires now are continental forums that require nations "to meet
certain provisions in the area of civil liberties."
Pragmatically, a Costa Rican diplomatic source asserted that
a barrier of conditioning had been overcome, and that if Costa Rica, which restored
full ties with Cuba only in 2007 - decided to limit its relations to states which
respect human rights, it would have ties with a very small number of nations.
