By Brandon Currie
GV Editor

TORONTO - In his first major address since the Organization of American States (OAS) lifted its ban on Cuban membership, Secretary General José Miguel Insulza addressed the state of hemispheric relations during a lunchtime talk in Toronto on Tuesday, June 9.

In a speech entitled 'Threshold of a New Era in Inter-American Relations,' Insulza explained that even though Cuba has expressed an unwillingness to rejoin the OAS, the fact that the organization is now open to the possibility is a signal that Cold War grievances are finally being put to rest.

"It was unfair," Insulza said, "Cuba was paying the price for something that happened 47 years ago. Democracy can't be forced through punishments and isolation... Cuba hasn't changed [since the suspension]. Let's hope it can change in a more open atmosphere."

Paraphrasing US President Barack Obama's recent speech in Cairo, the 66-year-old Chilean said that the OAS wanted to make policy in partnership with Cuba, not enforce it from outside. "The OAS Charter is to promote democracy, not impose it," he explained, adding that putting aside ideological differences "is a good sign for hemispheric relations."

Turning to his host country for the day, Insulza praised Canada's role in crafting the Cuba resolution, as well as its steadfast financial support for the organization.

"The Canadian role [in the resolution] was really very active," he said, singling out Canada's ambassador to the OAS, Graeme Clark, for particular distinction in the effort. It was later announced that Clark will tour Canada later this year to promote the country's role in the OAS. Insulza went on commend Canada's "large...  and timely" monetary contributions to the organization and its leadership role in hosting and participating in hemispheric summits.

Expanding the discussion to encompass the entire region, Insulza indentified climate change, immigration and income inequality as some of the most pressing challenges facing the Americas. Quoting former Brazilian President Henrique Cardoso, Insulza reiterated that rapidly developing countries in Latin America "aren't poor; they are unfair." To that end, he added that the OAS will soon initiate a social protection initiative to assist the hemisphere's most vulnerable populations, and that a multilateral approach is the only way to ensure success across the board.

Insulza concluded with a reflection on the democratic development of OAS member states since his first contact with the organization in the early 1970s, when many heads of state were military or authoritarian dictators. "Democracy is at a very crucial point in the region. All the states sitting in Trinidad [at the recent Summit of the Americas] were democratically elected. Somebody might not like who they elected, or what they do, but they cannot doubt [the leader's] legitimacy. How long can that last? I think it is very strong, but it is still very young... it means strengthening democratic institutions and working on the quality of governance."