MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Rio Group can't agree on Cuba's incorporation.

The Brazilian proposal to incorporate Cuba to the Rio Group, considered a first step towards the island's regime integration to the Organization of American States, OAS, lacked sufficient consensus since several countries considered the issue “highly sensitive” and further consultations were needed.

The Rio Group born in 1986 comprises 19 Latinamerican countries adopts decisions unanimously and with general agreement from all its members, explained the Brazilian Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim who hosted the ministerial meeting in Brasilia.

"There was no consensus on the beginning of the dialogue, but significantly important we experienced the ice breaking of the issue", underlined Mr. Amorim following the two days meeting.

Apparently among the countries not convinced with the proposal are Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua and Uruguay. These Rio Group members have strained relations with Cuba, --or no diplomatic relations at all--, pending diplomatic disputes over UN human rights votes, or simply argue that "since Cuba is not a democratic regime, its integration to the group would be controversial and conflictive".

"Some Foreign Affairs ministers said the issue was too sensitive and wanted further consultations with their governments, so we democratically believed we shouldn't press for a consensus", revealed Mr. Amorim.

"We can't talk about Cuba when she's not present so we only considered the possibility of beginning a dialogue between Havana and the Rio Group, added Mr. Amorim.

Cuba was separated from OAS in 1962 following strong pressure from the US government.

Apparently the reason for Brazil's initiative is preparation for the post-Fidel Castro era. Mr. Castro in his late seventies has ruled Cuba since 1959 and was a staunch ally of the Soviet Union until the collapse of the communist empire.