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New US-free Americas bloc planned | New US-free Americas bloc planned |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Latin American and Caribbean nations have agreed to set up a new regional body without the US and Canada. | |
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 has been hosting a regional summit in the beach resort of Cancun. | |
The OAS has been dogged by rifts between some members and the US over economic policy and trade, and criticised for promoting US interests. | |
'Regional integration' | 'Regional integration' |
The proposed new grouping was one of the main issues on the agenda of the two-day summit, which ended on Tuesday. | |
It "must as a priority push for regional integration... and promote the regional agenda in global meetings", Mexican President Felipe 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, Arturo Valenzuela, said he did not see the new body as a problem. | |
"This should not be an effort that would replace the OAS, " he said. | |
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 unanimously 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 also discussed 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. |