Cuba Not On Agenda, But Still Topic For Oas

An Organization of American States meeting, held in Haiti to mark the country’s return to democracy, ended Friday with resolutions to fight drug trafficking, corruption and extreme poverty.

Cuba, the region’s pariah state, was not on the agenda but was clearly on everyone’s mind.

Representatives of 30 of the 34 OAS member states said in speeches that they supported SecretaryGeneral Cesar Gaviria’s call for dialogue and not confrontation to persuade change in Communist Cuba.

However, Cuba was not on the meeting’s official agenda and there was never a suggestion that ministers decide on a plan of action.

Alexander F. Watson, U.S. assistant secretary of state for interAmerican affairs, indicated there would be no change in the U.S. policy of trying to force Cuba to change through trade sanctions.