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New US-free Americas bloc planned | New US-free Americas bloc planned |
(19 minutes later) | |
Latin American and Caribbean nations have agreed to set up a new regional body without the US and Canada, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has said. | Latin American and Caribbean nations have agreed to set up a new regional body without the US and Canada, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has said. |
The new bloc would be an alternative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years. | The new bloc would be an alternative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years. |
Mexico is hosting a regional summit in the beach resort of Cancun. | Mexico is hosting a regional summit in the beach resort of Cancun. |
The OAS has been dogged by rifts between some Latin American members and the US over economic policy and trade. | The OAS has been dogged by rifts between some Latin American members and the US over economic policy and trade. |
It has also been criticised as promoting US interests over those of other members. | |
'Regional integration' | 'Regional integration' |
The proposed new grouping was one of the main issues on the agenda of the two-day summit, ending on Tuesday. | The proposed new grouping was one of the main issues on the agenda of the two-day summit, ending on Tuesday. |
It "must as a priority push for regional integration... and promote the regional agenda in global meetings," Mr Calderon told the summit, which includes leaders and representatives from 32 countries. | It "must as a priority push for regional integration... and promote the regional agenda in global meetings," Mr Calderon told the summit, which includes leaders and representatives from 32 countries. |
It's very important that we don't try to replace the OAS. The OAS is a permanent organisation that has its own functions Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera Argentina wins Falklands backing | It's very important that we don't try to replace the OAS. The OAS is a permanent organisation that has its own functions Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera Argentina wins Falklands backing |
Cuban President Raul Castro was quick to applaud Mr Calderon's announcement as a historic move toward "the constitution of a purely Latin American and Caribbean regional organisation". | Cuban President Raul Castro was quick to applaud Mr Calderon's announcement as a historic move toward "the constitution of a purely Latin American and Caribbean regional organisation". |
Cuba was suspended from the OAS in 1962 because of its socialist political system. In 2009, the OAS voted to lift Cuba's suspension but the country has declined to rejoin. | Cuba was suspended from the OAS in 1962 because of its socialist political system. In 2009, the OAS voted to lift Cuba's suspension but the country has declined to rejoin. |
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez earlier expressed his support for the proposal, citing it as a move away from US "colonising" of the region. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez earlier expressed his support for the proposal, citing it as a move away from US "colonising" of the region. |
A US State Department official said he did not see the new body as replacing the OAS. | A US State Department official said he did not see the new body as replacing the OAS. |
The terms of the new bloc and whether it would replace the Rio Group of Latin American countries has not been clarified. | The terms of the new bloc and whether it would replace the Rio Group of Latin American countries has not been clarified. |
"It's very important that we don't try to replace the OAS," said Chile's President-elect Sebastian Pinera. "The OAS is a permanent organisation that has its own functions." | "It's very important that we don't try to replace the OAS," said Chile's President-elect Sebastian Pinera. "The OAS is a permanent organisation that has its own functions." |
On Monday, Bolivian President Evo Morales proposed that it begin operating in July 2011 with a summit hosted by Venezuela. | On Monday, Bolivian President Evo Morales proposed that it begin operating in July 2011 with a summit hosted by Venezuela. |
Falklands row | Falklands row |
The Cancun summit has also reportedly backed Argentina's claim over the British-owned Falklands. | The Cancun summit has also reportedly backed Argentina's claim over the British-owned Falklands. |
Argentina is angered that a UK firm has begun drilling for oil off the Falkland Islands, which lie about 450km (280 miles) off the Argentine coast. | Argentina is angered that a UK firm has begun drilling for oil off the Falkland Islands, which lie about 450km (280 miles) off the Argentine coast. |
Argentina and Britain went to war over the South Atlantic islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas, in 1982, after Buenos Aires invaded them. | Argentina and Britain went to war over the South Atlantic islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas, in 1982, after Buenos Aires invaded them. |
The leaders at Cancun were also to discuss whether to recognise Porfirio Lobo as the legitimate president of Honduras after he was elected president under interim authorities following a 28 June coup that ousted Manuel Zelaya. | The leaders at Cancun were also to discuss whether to recognise Porfirio Lobo as the legitimate president of Honduras after he was elected president under interim authorities following a 28 June coup that ousted Manuel Zelaya. |
A long-term plan to help Haiti recover from the devastating January earthquake was also on the agenda. | A long-term plan to help Haiti recover from the devastating January earthquake was also on the agenda. |