RUTGERS UNIVERSITY MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2008
Delegation: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Committee: Organization of American States
Topic: Cuba
Delegates: Donia Azeem
EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL
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The Organization of American States [OAS] Secretary, General Jose Miquel Insulza,
openly stated that it is absurd for there to be no dialogue between the OAS and The Republic of
Cuba, considering that 33 of the Organization’s states “have normal relations with Cuba and only
one does not” (“OAS Willing”). In 1962, shortly after Cuba’s revolutionary government was
established, relations between Cuba and other members, especially the United States,
deteriorated. At the time, Cuba’s support for insurgents in other nations and their weak human
rights record concerned many of the OAS members and with a vote of 14 in favor and 2 against,
Cuba was excluded from participating in the OAS. Recently, Raul Castro, the current leader of
Cuba, has signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International
Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, two treaties that drastically improve human
rights conditions. Because of Cuba’s progress, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela strongly
supports Cuba’s reentry into the OAS because they are an integral part of the region that is in
need of aid in order to reach their goals.
. For forty-seven years, the United States Government has accused Cuba of violating
human rights and encouraged other nations to break diplomatic relations. The United States of
America, the main advocate of the criticisms, feels that the Cuban government ignored and
virtually violated the fundamental rights of its citizens, including freedom of speech and press
(“Western Hemisphere”). Multiple human rights problems were reported including harassment
and threats against political opponents by government-recruited officials (“Cuba”). By the end
of 2005, Cuban jails contained at least 333 documented political prisoners, including sixty prodemocracy activists arrested in a March 2003 crackdown (“Western Hemisphere”). The Cuban
government, similar to many other governments, considered print and electronic media to be
state property, owning and controlling all media except for a number of illegal, underground
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newsletters (“Cuba” U.S Department of State). The Cuban government has also intervened with
privacy, including pervasive monitoring of private communications (“Cuba” U.S Department of
State). Cuba’s support for guerrilla movements in 1962 caused its dismissal from the OAS as an
active member. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s main economic
supporter, they have ceased supporting guerrilla movements (“Cuba” Global Security).
Cuba has normal diplomatic relations with 160 nations and has civilian assistance
workers, nurses and physicians, in 20 countries, including Venezuela (“Background Note:
Cuba”). The U.S is one of the few nations in the OAS who vehemently disapproves of Cuba
being readmitted as a participating member. In 1962, the United States sought to eliminate
Cuba’s ability to influence Latin America by terminating formal contact between the island and
the rest of the hemisphere in order to prevent Castro from using Cuban embassies for intelligence
gathering and political recruitment (Wright 60). In pressuring the hemispheric nations to break
diplomatic relations with Cuba, the U.S attempted to limit the power of the Cuban government.
The U.S instigated the expulsion of Cuba from the OAS and still disapproves of their
readmission, despite immense progress from Cuba. Days after Rauol Castro became president,
he signed two vital human rights treaties that will make Cuba one of many nations to take a step
towards improving the human rights situation. Rauol Castro has also freed dissidents and started
speculations about publicizing property and agricultural production control. Cuba has potential
to play a large role in the region’s economic, social, and political activities by rejoining the OAS.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela fervently supports Cuba’s readmission into the
OAS. Venezuela has regular relations with the Republic of Cuba and has jointly cooperated with
Cuba on numerous programs. For example, the two countries have worked together on a
cooperative program that protects the environment by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels
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and promoting the use of alternative energy sources (Grogg). The agreement included the
installation of eleven ethanol plants in Venezuela to develop sugarcane production (Grogg). In
2007, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and, then interim leader, Raul Castro oversaw the
economic partnerships of the two nations in sectors ranging from oil production to tourism
(Snow). The wide range of cooperation projects cost USD $1.5 billion (Grogg). The economic
survival of the Castro regime depended on an agreement that the nations signed on October 30,
2000, which supplied Cuba with 53,000 barrels per day of Venezuelan oil in the first half of the
decade (Yanes 10) Castro sees Venezuelan economic support as an indispensable help to get
through difficult times and to avoid any extreme governmental transition in the island (10). On
the other hand, “Cuba is playing an important role, not only in supplying Venezuela through
several of [their] sugar mills, but also with cooperation on technological aspects," (Grogg). The
partnership with Cuba has proven to be beneficial to Venezuela and it has also helped guide
Cuba towards providing a stable life for its citizens.
The purpose of the OAS is to “promote social and economic development in the Western
hemisphere through cooperation” (“The OAS at a Glance”). By readmitting Cuba back into the
OAS, the organization would be confirming that statement by joining together to help a
neighboring nation improve its policies. However, other member states, such as the United
States, have previously favored different methods in order to dissolve Cuba’s human rights and
governmental problems. In 1992, the United States of America instituted the Torricelli Act
which made the economic blockade, already in place, more severe by preventing food and
medicine from being shipped to Cuba (“The Torricelli Act”). Soon after, the Helms-Burton Act
was passed that warned foreign companies not to trade with Cuba or else face limits on trading
with the U.S. A provision, that was later changed, allowed U.S. companies to sue foreign
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affiliates if they traded with Cuba (“The Helms-Burton Act”). This method of isolation attempted
by the U.S, and agreed upon by other member-states, has proven ineffective and was the cause of
the former alliance between Cuba and the Soviet Union. By readmitting the Cuba back into the
OAS, the Cuban nation will not be forced into isolation to solve their problems, but will have the
opportunity to receive aid from neighboring nations.
Venezuela strongly believes that all the member states will economically benefit from the
addition of Cuba. Cuba’s main agricultural product, sugar, has aided in the steady increase of the
real annual growth rate from 2002 (1.5%) through 2006 (9.5%) (“Background Notes: Cuba”). Its
major export items, including sugar, pharmaceutical, and biotech products are essential to a
functioning economy (“Background Notes: Cuba”). Given Cuba’s strategic location, it could be
an important security and trade partner because OAS member states would gain another market
to sell their products to.
Venezuela urges OAS member states to integrate Cuba back into the procedures of OAS.
Nations are urged to continue regular commerce with the Republic of Cuba and instigate joint
cooperation programs, like the afore mentioned programs between Venezuela and Cuba, so as to
strengthen the economic and political ties between Cuba and the rest of the region. Nations are
encouraged to assist Cuba in adhering to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, while respecting the nation’s sovereignty. Raul Castrol has openly encouraged more
debate and criticism in society and has recently allowed a group of students, who sharply
questioned the president of the National Assembly over the travel ban, to protest without
consequences (McKinley).
. Cuba is encouraged to support all human rights education through their media and
through education systems. All member states, including Cuba, should actively support and fund
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campaigns by promoting peace, tolerance, diversity, and equality through pamphlets, regularly
held conferences, and in each individual nation’s media outlets. This will aid Cuba in improving
human right conditions within their nation and in adhering to the guidelines set by the OAS.
Any member-state of the OAS is strongly encouraged to withdraw any previously
established trade barriers against Cuba, in order to provide them with an easier to path to social,
economic, and political success within the region. These trade barriers impede Cuba’s economic
progress. In 2007, the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly, for the sixteenth straight
year, to urge the United States to end its forty-six year old trade embargo against Cuba (“U.N
Again Urges”). Cuba’s foreign minister accused the U.S of stepping up its economic warfare to a
new level. The embargo encourages Cuban citizens to relocate in order to live normal lives.
Venezuela encourages member states to work together with Cuba through regular commerce and
joint cooperation programs in order to help the nation develop its most prominent resource,
sugar, and to establish a successful tourism industry, augmented by increased profits from trade.
Law and justice should always be valued above political prejudice. For decades,
Venezuela has advocated equal rights and opportunity. It is time that the entire region adopts
these values and overcome the fears that cause them to unfairly shun a nation for its wrongdoings
almost half a century ago, especially when most OAS member states have normal relations with
Cuba. A regional effort needs to be concerted to effectively readmit Cuba back into the OAS and
to improve the lives of their citizens.
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