Cuba's President Raul Castro (Front) takes part in the 7th Summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Havana, Cuba, on June 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Ismael Francisco/Cubadebate)
HAVANA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Raul Castro on Saturday slammed the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, for his recent statements on Venezuela and said the island "would never" return to that organization.
"The OAS since its foundation was, is and will be an instrument of imperialist domination and no reform will change its nature and history. That is why Cuba will never return to the OAS," vowed Castro at the opening of the VII Summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Havana.
Castro criticized the position taken last week by Almagro on Venezuela, which saw him call for the organization to invoke its Inter-American Democratic Charter, leading to the potential suspension of Venezuela from the bloc for alleged "human rights violations and lack of democracy" .
"It is of deep concern that there is an unacceptable attempt to apply the Inter-American Democratic Charter of the OAS to intervene in the internal affairs of Venezuela," said the Cuban leader.
He also reiterated Havana' s support for President Nicolas Maduro' s administration and said Caracas faces an "imperialist offensive" to topple its socialist government.
"We firmly oppose the destabilization agenda and economic war faced by Maduro' s government and support the revolution that has brought social changes to the Venezuelan people," he added.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (C), takes part in the 7th Summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), in Havana, Cuba, on June 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Ismael Francisco/Cubadebate)
ACS foreign ministers discussed several issues of importance on Friday, including the political situation in Venezuela, which led to a common declaration of support for Maduro' s government that will be evaluated by Caribbean leaders Saturday.
Castro also condemned the role of the OAS for suspending Havana in 1962 due to U.S. pressure.
The Seventh Summit of the ACS is being held at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana with the attendance of 19 Presidents or Prime Ministers of the 25 member states.
The members are expected to approve the Havana declaration, which touches on political issues such as the U.S. blockade on Cuba and the Venezuelan crisis as well as a joint action plan for the next two years, which seeks to increase economic and commercial cooperation within the bloc.
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) was created in July 1994 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation and concerted action among Caribbean countries.
