Cuba rejects OAS membership

Cuba will not rejoin the Organization of American States (OAS), even though the multinational organization has lifted the 47- year-old suspension of the country\'s membership, a Cuban official said today, according to reports on CNN.com.



Ricardo Alarcon, president of the National Assembly, made the announcements to reporters. Former Cuban President Fidel Castro had said earlier this week that Cuba had no interest in rejoining the 35-nation group.



Cuba was suspended in 1963 as a result of efforts led by the United States at the height of the Cold War. The United States had earlier this year sought to obtain concessions from Cuba in exchange for readmission to the OAS. In particular, the United States wants greater political freedoms for the island\'s 11 million citizens.