Profile: Organization of American States

OAS members include South American giants, Caribbean islands

The Organization of American States, or OAS, aims to foster democracy, security, human rights and economic integration among its members.

It includes all the countries of the Americas except Cuba, which was suspended in 1962 because of its Marxist-Leninist political system.

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | ISSUES

Formed in 1948, partly in response to a perceived threat from international communism, the OAS succeeded the Pan-American Union, a body founded in 1890. Its early preoccupations were security-related; the OAS held that an attack on one member would be considered as an attack upon all.

The OAS has mediated in border disputes between its members. However it did little to counter military dictatorships in Central and South America in the 1970s and 1980s.

In recent years democracy and development have become driving principles. The OAS says it can take "specific collective action" when democracy is threatened. It says member governments must promote and defend democracy.

Of late, one of its main tasks has been to monitor elections, including those in the unstable Caribbean nation of Haiti and in Venezuela.

OAS heads of state and government meet at the high-profile Summit of the Americas, a periodic gathering held to address the challenges facing Western Hemisphere nations. Recent gatherings have discussed economic growth, social development and progress towards a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

FACTS

OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | ISSUES

• Founded: 1948, in Bogota, Colombia
• Active members: 34 states in North, Central and Latin America and the Caribbean (Cuba suspended since 1962)
• Headquarters: Washington DC, USA
• Official languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Budget: US$84.4 million (for 2005)

LEADERS

OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | ISSUES

Secretary-general: Jose Miguel Insulza

Former Chilean foreign minister Jose Miguel Insulza was elected unopposed in May 2005 after his rival, Mexico's Luis Ernesto Derbez, pulled out of the race to lead the organisation.

Chile's Jose Miguel Insulza

The OAS had been deadlocked over the choice of a leader since October 2004, with rounds of voting for the US-backed Mr Derbez and Mr Insulza resulting in dead heats.

Mr Insulza said his main focus would be to protect and promote democracy.

The previous OAS secretary-general, Costa Rica's Miguel Angel Rodriguez, resigned over corruption allegations in his home country just two weeks into his five-year term.

Structure:

• General Assembly: Goals and policies are decided at this annual meeting of OAS foreign ministers, which also oversees the OAS budget.
• Permanent Council: The Washington-based body is made up of ambassadors of member states. It oversees relations between members and ties with other international bodies.
• General Secretariat: The Washington-based administrative body is headed by the secretary-general.

ISSUES

OVERVIEW | FACTS | LEADERS | ISSUES

The ideal of inter-American cooperation is dogged by rifts between some Latin American countries and the US over economic policy and trade. Some smaller nations are concerned that their economies could be eclipsed within a proposed free trade area.

The trade plan could also prove contentious in the several major South American countries which have moved to the political left in recent years.

Poverty reduction and development remain major challenges. The OAS drew up an action plan in 1994, but former OAS head Miguel Angel Rodriguez noted in 2004 that poverty and hunger remained "bitter daily life" for millions of OAS citizens.

The OAS has been accused by some of being ineffective, and of promoting US interests above those of other members. Moreover, it also faces financial troubles; member contributions have fallen short of the organisation's annual budget.

The OAS faced a new challenge in March 2008. as it sought to defuse tension among member-states over a Colombian raid against a FARC rebel camp in neighbouring Ecuador.

Several member state broke off relations with Colombia over the cross-border incursion, and a meeting of OAS foreign mininsters condemned the action. On the other hand, the United States said Colombia had a right to act against armed groups conducting attacks on its territory.