319

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED:

I. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR. ..

II.

VOTES OF THANKS. .

III.

REQUEST TO THE PERMANENT COUNCIL TO COORDINATE

THE TEXTS OF THE FINAL ACT. 326

STATEMENTS:I.

Statement made by the delegations of Argentina,Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic,Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama,Peru, Trinidad y Tobago, and Venezuela. ...

II.

Statement made by the Delegation of Brazil

III.

Statement made by the Delegation of Chile.

IV Statement made by the Delegation of Uruguay

APPENDIX:

DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY THE DELEGATIONS OFCOLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, AND VENEZUELA. 349

321 -

FINAL ACT

THE FIFTEENTH MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRSSERVING AS ORGAN OF CONSULTATION IN APPLICATION OF THE

INTER-AMERICAN TREATY OF RECIPROCAL ASSISTANCE

Preamble

The Fifteenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairsserving as Organ of Consultation in application of the Inter-AmericanTreaty of Reciprocal Assistance was held in Quito from November 8 through12, 1974.

The Meeting was convoked through a resolution of the PermanentCouncil of the Organization of American States, adopt~d on September 20,1974, whose text is as follows:

WHEREAS:

The Council has taken cognizance of the note from the re~resenta-tives of the Republics of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, wherebytheir governments request convocation of a Meeting of Consultation ofMinisters of Foreign Affairs serving as Organ of Consultation inapplication of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, inorder that that meeting, taking into account the change in the circum-stances that existed in 1964, may take the pertinent decision withregard to the advisability of discontinuing the application of theprovisions of Resolution I of the Ninth Meeting of Consultation;

The Council has also taken note of the several statements madeby various representatives during the course of the meeting it beganon September 19,1974, and continued the following day; and

The Government of Ecuador has expressed its willingness to hostthe Meeting of Consultation in Quito beginning in the second week ofNovember of 1974,

THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

RESOLVES~

1. To convoke a Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of ForeignAffairs serving as Organ of Consultation in application of the lnter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, so that, in strict obser-vance of the principle of nonintervention of a state in the affairsof other states, and taking into account the change in the circum-stances that existed when the measures against the Government of Cubawere adopted, it may decide whether there is justification for discon-tinuing the application of Resolution I of the Ninth Meeting of Con-

sultation, held in Washington in 1964.

322

2. To express its th~nks for and accept the generous offer ofthe di:stinguished Government of Ecu~dor to host the Meeting of theOrgan of ConsuLtation in the city of Quito beginning November 8, 1974.

3. To constitute itself and act provisionally as Organ of Con-sultation, i'n accordance with Article 12 of the aforementioned Treaty.

4. To infonn the' United Nations Security Council of this resolu-tion and of any decisions that may be taken in this connection.

The Fifteenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairswas a't:t:ehded by the following MiQisters and Special Delegates, iQ the orderof precedence established by lot at the closed preliminary session held onNovember 8, 19'74:

TRI~IDAD AND TOBAGO: Victor Chrysostom McIntyreAmbassador, Representative to the OAS

MEXICO"; Emilio O. RabasaSecretary of Foreign Affairs

FE ({tJ ~ Miguel Angel de la Flor ValleMinister of Foreign Affairs

p' ANAMA ~ Juan Antonio TackMin1s'te r of Foreign Affairs

DOMIN1CAI'-l REPUBLIG~ Victor G6mez BergesSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs

HONDURAS: Ricardo Arturo Pineda MilIaActing Minister of Foreign Affairs

UNITED STATES. Robert S. IngersollDeputy Secretary of State

URUGUAY: Juan Carlos BlancoMinister of Foreign Affairs

GUATEMALA: Adolfo Molina OrantesMinister of Foreign Affairs

CHILE:

Patricio Carvajal PradoMinister of Foreign Affairs

COSTA RICA: Gonzalo J. Facio SegredaMinister of Foreign Affairs

PARAGUAY: Raul Sapena PastorMinister of Foreign Affairs

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BOLIVIA:

Alberto Guzman SorianoMinister of Foreign Affairs

and Worship

BRAZIL:

Antonio Francisco Azeredo da SilveiraMinister of State for Foreign Affairs

ARGENTINA:

Antonio J. BenitezMinister of Justice and Acting Minister

of Foreign Affairs and Worship

NICARAGUA~ Alejandro Montiel Argu"elloMinister of Foreign Aff.~irs

COLOMBIA: lndalecio Lievano AguirreMinister of Foreign Affairs

EL SALVAOOR: Mauricio Borgonovo PoblMinister of Foreign Affairs

HAITI:

Edner BrutusSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs

and Worship

VENEZUELA: Efra!n Schacht AristiguietaMinister of Foreign Affairs

ECUAOOR:

Antonio Jose Lucio Paredes~Iinister of Foreign Affairs

Ambassadors Valerie T. McComie and Ivo De Souza attended, participat-ing as Observers for Barbados and Jamaica, respectively, in accordancewith the provisions of Chapter VII (paragraph 1) of the Regulations.

Also, in accordance with Chapter VII, paragraph 3, of the aforesaidRegulations, the Permanent Observers of the Federal Republic of GermaliY,Belgium, Canada, France, Guyana, Italy, Japan, and the Kingdom of theNetherlands attended.

Pursuant to operative paragraph 1 of resolution XXXIX adopted at theNinth International Conference of American States, the United Nations wasrepresented by an Observer.

The meeting was also attended by His Excellency Galo Plaza, SecretaryGeneral of the Organization of American States.

His Excellency the President of Ecuador, General Guillermo RodriguezLara, formally opened the Meeting on the afternoon of November 8, 1974.

324

The Government of Ecuador appointed as provisional President of theMeeting His Excellency Antonio Jose Lucio Paredes, Minister of ForeignAffairs of that country. Dr. Lucio Paredes was elected permanent Presidentat the opening plenary session held on November 8, 1974. During the samesession his Excellency Adolfo Molina Orantes, Minister of Foreign Affairsof Guatemala, was elected Vice President of the Meeting.

The Government of Ecuador appointed Ambassador Manuel Ignacio Cornejoto be Secretary General, pursuant to Article 9 of the Regulations.

The proceedings were governed by the Regulations of the Meeting ofConsultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs Sel"v':ng as organ of Consul-tation in application of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assis-tance, as approved by the Council of the Organization in 1960, with theamendments thereto, and a chapter containing transitory provisions approvedby the Permanent Council of the Organization acting provisionally as Organof Consultation, at the meeting it held on October 29, 1974.

A Committee on Credentials was appointed composed vf the delegationsof Uruguay (Chairman), Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. A Style Commit-tee was also appointed, formed by the delegations of Colombia, Brazil, theUnited States, and Haiti.

In accordance with Article 20 of the Regulations, a General Conunitteewas set up, composed of all the members, to examine all matters. HisExcellency Jose Antonio Lucio Paredes, Minister of Foreign Affairs ofEcuador, and His Excellency Adolfo Molina Orantes, Minister of ForeignAffairs of Guatemala, were appointed Chairman and Rapporteur of the General

Conunittee, respectively.

In the course of the proceedings a draft resolution was submitted by

the delegations of Colombia, Costa RLca, and Venezuela (Doc.19/74), whichis included as an appendix.

When this draft resolution was put to a vote at the fifth meeting ofthe General Committee, held on November 12, 1974, the results were thefollowing: Honduras, Costa Rica, Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador,Venezuela, Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Peru, Panama, and theDominican Republic voted in favor; Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay votedagainst; and the United States, Guatemala, Bolivia, Brazil, Nicaragua, andHaiti abstained. Consequently the majority vote required for approval inaccordance with the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, wasnot obtained.

The delegations of Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, the DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidadand Tobago, and Venezuela requested that a statement made on their behalfby the Delegation of Colombia during the fifth meeting of the GeneralCommittee be included in the Final Act of the Meeting.

-325 -

The delegations of Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay also requested that thestatements they made during the same meeting of the General Committee beincluded in the Final Act.

At the closing session, held on November 12, 1974, addresses were

delivered by His Excellency Mauricio Borgonovo Pohl, Minister of ForeignAffairs of El Salvador, speaking on behalf of the participating Ministers,and His Excellency, Dr. Jose Antonio Lucio Paredes, President of theFifteenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

The Meeting approved the following resolutions:

I

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR

THE FIFTEENTH MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGNAFFAIRS, SERVING AS ORGAN OF CONSULTATION IN APPLICATION OF THEINTER-AMERICAN TREATY OF RECIPROCAL ASSISTANCE,

RESOLVES:

1. To express its deep appreciation to the Government ofEcuador and in particular to its President, His Excellency GeneralGuillenno Rodriguez Lara, for their generous offer to host theMeeting in Quito, and for all the attention and courtesies shown tothe participants.

2. To express its deep appreciation to His Excellency theMinister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, Antonio Jose Lucio Paredes,for his skillful and impartial conduct of the discussions.

II

VOTES OF THANKS

THE FIFTEENTH MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGNAFFAIRS, SERVING AS ORGAN OF CONSULTATION IN APPLICATION OF THEINTER-AMERICAN TREATY OF RECIPROCAL ASSISTANCE,

RESOLVES:

1. To congratulate Ambassador Manuel Ignacio Cornejo, SecretaryGeneral of the Meeting, for the efficient way in which the work wasorganized and conducted.

-326 -

2. To thank the Secretary General of the Organization and thepersonnel for their valuable cooperation.

3. To thank the press and the other hemispheric and world newsmedia for their efficient services.

III

REQUEST TO THE PERMANENT COUNCILTO COORDINATE THE TEXTS OF THE FINAL ACT

THE FIFTEENTH MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGNAFFAIRS, SERVING AS ORGAN OF CONSULTATION IN APPLICATION OF THEINTER-AMERICAN TREATY OF RECIPROCAL ASSISTANCE,

RESOLVES:

1. To request the Permanent Council of the Organization toexamine the Final Act in order to coordinate the texts in the fourofficial languages.

-327

STATEMENTS

-329-

I

STATEMENT MADE BY THE DELEGATIONS OF ARGENTINA, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA,THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ECUADOR, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, MEXICO,

PANAMA, PERU, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, AND VENEZUELA

(Fifth Meeting of the General Committee,November 12, 1974)

331 -

The Delegations of Argentina, Colombia, Costa "Rica,Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama,and Tobago, and Venezuela to this Fifteenth Meeting ofMinisters of Foreign Affairs, make the following

the DominicanPeru, TrinidadConsultation

of

STATEMENT

The measures imposed on Cuba ten years ago, under politicalconditions totally different from those that prevail in the world today,have rendered those measures anachronistic, ineffective and inadvisable.and. therefore, the Fifteenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers ofForeign Affairs should have formally discontinued application of them.

To that end, the countries that proposed the holding of this Meeting,Colombia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela, presented a draft resolution intendedto discontinue application of the measures imposed on Cuba in 1964, andthereby allow the states parties to the Inter-American Treaty ofReciprocal Assistance to decide, in accordance with their sovereign will,on the advisability of reestablishing, at the level and at such time asthey deemed appropriate, the relations that they had discontinuel with the

government of that country.

However, the omission in the Inter-American Treaty of ReciprocalAssistance as to what procedure is to be followed to discontinueapplication of measures imposed in accordance with the Treaty, has meantthat the two-thirds rule provided for adoption of decisions, has beenapplied, which has meant that three countries, determined to prolong themeasures, have managed, by their opposing votes and with the sixabstentions, to veto the draft resolution whose ultimate objective was topreserve the authority of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal

Assistance.

The fact that an absurd procedure, which is contrary to thedemocratic spirit that should inspire international organizations, hasthwarted the express majority will of twelve states parties to ,heInter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, cannot be construed as a

united front in protest to injurious acts of which Cuba stands accused;nor can it be argued that continuance of the measures imposed by the NinthMeeting of Consultation is supported by the free will of that majority.

Although it may on the surface produce results that lend formalistbut precarious support to Resolution I of the Ninth Meeting ofConsultation, the position of those three countries, made easier by thenegative effect of the abstentions, in fact seriously compromises theauthority of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance and of theOrganization of American States, having as a result that other states mayjoin, as will probably happen, those who have reestablished relations withCuba, since they do not feel compelled to abide by Resolution I inasmuchas it lacks the backing of a majority of the American states.

332 -

Although that position may make it even more difficult to revitalizethe inter-American system, the countri.es signing this statement reiteratetheir unswerving commitment to continue their efforts aimed atrestructuring the system, in order to transform it into an instrument foreffective cooperation to resolve the numerous problems affecting ourcountries:

underdevelopment, poverty and violence.

For all American peoples to see, let the record show all the effortsthat they have made to promote dialogue and understanding among all thenations of the hemisphere, in observance of the principle ofnon-intervention, as well as their firm intention to remove from theregional sphere all elements that disrupt inter-A!nerican accord.

The majority will that supported the proposal to discontinue themeasures applied against Cuba faithfully represents the historic eventthat has taken place here in Quito, the City of light of the Americas,where a stage in inter-American relations has corne to an end.

The Representatives and Special Delegates signing this statement wishto express to the .Government of Ecuador their appreciation of the nobleeffort it has made to accomplish the lofty objetctives sought here, as thehost to this Fifteenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of ForeignAffairs.

-333 -

II

STATEMENT MADE BY THE DELEGATION OF BRAZIL

(Fifth Meeting of the General Committee,November 12, 1974)

-335-

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF BRAZIL

The Fifteenth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairsserving as Organ of Consultation in application of the Inter-AmericanTreaty of Reciprocal Assistance was convoked for the specific purpose ofdeciding "whether there is justification for discontinuing the applicationof Resolution I of the Ninth Meeting of Consultation," adopted ten yearsago.

The Pemtanent Council of the Organization of American States defined

the terms of reference that should govern our deliberations: strictobservance of the principle of nonintervention and consideration of thechanges that have occurred in the circumstances that existed when themeasures against the Government sanctioned were adopted.

The statements we have heard and the conversations we have held hereenabled us to conclude that all of the governments represented consider itof basic importance to reaffirm and strengthen the clear commitment tononintervention in the internal affairs of other states.

For Brazil, the principle of nonintervention in the internal affairsof other states is the cornerstone of good international relations. It iseven more fundamental in the relations between the countries of thehemisphere. The application of this principle should be the rigorousconcern of all the American nations and above any consideration of thegreater or lesser power of the states.

For that reason, when the debate was initiated in Washington lastSeptember regarding the convocation of a new Meeting of Consultation ofMinisters of Foreign Affairs of the signatory countries of the Rio Treatyto examine the desirability of revoking Resolution I of the Ninth Meetingof Consultation, Brazil's concern was that the countries be stanchlycommitted to evaluating the circumstances under which the measuresmentioned in that resolution were adopted, in the light of strict respectfor the principle of nonintervention in the internal affairs of oti,-.:rstates.

Brazil's concern was heeded, and the resolution that was unanimouslyapproved on September 29 by the Permanent Council of the Organization ofAmerican States, relating to the convocation of this Fifteenth Meeting of

Consultation, expressly detemlined that it should be done "in strictobservance of the principle of nonintervention of a state in the affairsof other states ."

As we understand it, therefore, our governments, whoserepresentatives are meeting here, accept and reaffirm that that principlemust govern the relations of all the countries of the hemisphere. We alsounderstand that these same goverrnnents are persuaded that strict adherenceto that principle is fundamental to the strengthening of theinter-American system, which is likewise a common objective of us all.

-336 -

Ths't, in. itself, is an' auspicious result of this Meeting, which I amplea'sed to' bring to your attention.

As to th~' consid'erations concerning the changes that hav~ occurred inthe c,ircumstances that existed when the measures against the Government inquestion were adopted" Brazil stated its position quite clearly at themeeting, of the Permanent COuncil in Washington.

For Brazil, the reasons that must inform our decision on whether ornot to: d'iscontinue the app'lication of the measures related to Resolution Iof the Ninth Meeting of Consultation do not depend first and foremost onthe 1rrternational political situation, although we adtnit--indeed, we couldnot d:o otherTltiBe-~that conditions prevailing in the world constitute abackdrop for the examination of specific occurrences that, in the finalinstaoce, should de'termine our decision. As Resolution I of the NinthMeeting 0'£ Consultation irrevocably stipulates, these occurrences must ineach case be directly related to the behavior of the government that wasthe'objett of the measures adopted in 1964, pursuant to the provisions ofA'ttit'le 8' of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance. It istherefore primarily upon the behavior of that government, and ourevaluatioh thereof, as Brazil understands the matter, that we should basethe decision t-rhether or not to discontinue the application of the

provisions of the aforementioned resolution.

ln this respect, no proof whatsoever has been submitted to thisMeeting of .any substantial change in the behavior of the Government

.: ..agal.nst wnl.ch the m~asures were taken. On the contrary, some countr1eshave infonned us of recent occurrences that would lead us to the oppositeconclusion.

Mor~ important still: there is not the slightest indicationthat that government wartts the measures to be discontinued or that it isready to assu~e any commitment to nonintervention in return for thisgestur~ on th~ part of tlt-:.; other American governments to create the

conditions for dialogue.

That being the case, with circumstances as they are, Brazil did notsee how it was possible to support the repeal of Resolution I.

Furthermore, it seems obvious to all that the overriding concern inthis Meeting has been, not whether or not to discontinue the measures, butto preserve hemispheric solidarity and to strengthen the inter-Americansystem. For an important number of governments represented here, whetherinclined or not to the discontinuation of the measures, repeated failureto comply with a positive obligatiofi of the Inter-American Treaty ofReciprocal Assistance would serve to weaken it, which would be contrary to

the interests of the hemispheric community.

Brazil understands this concern and shares it. However, it does notbelieve that the solution to this problem lies in the repeal of aresolution that was not being observed across-the-board. If theprovisions of the Rio Treaty need amending or need to be interpreted some

337

other way in order that they might be better suited to today's world, thisis not the forum for doing so. The matter is being studied in Washingtonby the Special Committee of the OAS and it must be resolved there.

There is no doubt, however, that a possible erosion of the Rio Treatywould weaken the inter-American system itself; this might even beaggravated were a larger number of countries to join those that havealready decided to cease complying with a provision of a Treaty that weall signed.

We are still of the opinion that the Inter-American Treaty of

Reciprocal Assistance, with the amendments necessary to bring it up todate, is a useful and necessary instrument for inter-American relations.Therefore, we would not want a negative vote by Braz;_l on the proposalunder consideration at this Fifteenth Meeting of Consultation to increasethe differences that now separate the member governments of this systemwith respect to the purposes of the Treaty, and thereby help to underminethe Treaty and the Organization of American States itself.

For Brazil, the most important outcome of this Meeting ofConsultation will be confirmation of the presence of an evei greaterdetennination on the part of the American governments to reaffirm theprinciples of self-detennination and nonintervention, and that thereexists among us a genuine desire for understanding and for hemisphericsolidarity. These are, in the final analysis, more important than theoccasional differences that divide us with respect to the question nowunder debate. There is also a widely held belief th:!.t the problem shouldbe reduced in its proportions so that it does not continue to impair the

opportunities for ever increasing cooperation among the countries of thehemisphere.

For all these reasons--seeing on the one hand that the conditionsthat would justify revocation of Resolution I, as stated in theconvocation of this Meeting, have not been met, and on the other hand,that the majority of the governments meeting h2re, represented by theministers of states of the countries that compose the inter-Ameri::ansystem, seem to be of the opinion that the time has come, collectively, toseek formulas to bring the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistanceup-to-date, so as to render it more effective and realistic--the BrazilianGovernment abstains from voting on the proposal submitted to this Meetingof Consultation.

339 -

III

STATEMENT MADE BY THE DELEGATION OF CHILE

(Fifth Meeting of the General Committee,November 12, 1974)

341

STATEMENT MADE BY THE DELEGATION OF CHILE

The Chilean Delegation has voted against the draft resolution thatprovided for discontinuing the application of Resolution I adopted at theNinth Meeting of Consultation since, as I said in my statement during thegeneral debate, Chile considers that the Government of Cuba has continuedand continues to intervene in the affairs of other American states. Thishas been pointed out not only by countries that presented evidence but bythe Ministers of several other states as well.

Chile is of the opinion that these repeated acts of intervention onthe part of the Cuban Government constitute a threat to peace in thehemisphere and also believes that the measures approved in Resolution I ofthe Ninth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs,although not fully effective, are at least a necessary and advisabledeterrent for limiting' the aforementioned danger.

I reaffirm Chile's profound faith in the inter-American system and inthe Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance. I am happy thatduring the general debate the great majority of the delegation;::; presentexpressed their desire to strengthen it.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman

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IV

STATEMENT BY THE DELEGATION OF URUGUAY

(Fifth Meeting of the General Committee,November 12, 1974)

345 -

STATEMENT BY THE DELEGATION OF URUGUAY

Mr. iliainnan: For the reasons explained by my Delegation during thegeneral debate, and in light of the evidence submitted by Uruguay'sDelegation on the Permanent Council of the Organization of American Statesacting provisionally as Organ of Consultation, the Republic of Uruguay hasvoted against the proposal submitted by the Republics of Colombia, CostaRica, and Venezuela that the application of the measures provided for inResolution I of the Ninth Meeting of Consultation be discontinued.

On this occasion, Mr. Chairman, I wish only to emphasize a fewpoints, which are no different from those made in f.Truguay's earlierstatements, but which I feel bear repeating today because of certainstatements made in this room to explain other votes. In the opinion of myDelegation, these statements to some extent disregard the points duly madeby my country.

Uruguay's position is based entirely on the certain and proven factof Cuba's continuing acts of intervention in my country's internalaffairs, to aid and abet a subversive movement.

The position of Uruguay cannot, therefore, admit the other argumentsthat have been repeatedly made with regard to political circumstances atthe world and hemispheric levels--which certainly must be borne in mind inall matters, including this one, but which neither as a whole norseparately, can in any way diminish the certain and concrete fact ofintervention that my Delegation has recounted, and of which it hassubmitted evidence that is at the disposal of this Meeting.

In addition, Mr. Chainnan, I wish to reaffinn that the point Uruguayis making is not merely the assertion of Q formalistic juridical conceptthat refers to certain texts of treaties; it refers instead to the pointthat in fact, at this Meeting, has become the crux of the disagreementbetween us. It is both juridical and political: purely and simply put,it is the fact that for some delegations the appropriate conditions nowexist for lifting the sanctions against Cuba; for others, such as my own,those conditions do not exist. In the case of my Delegation, they do noexist because of those acts of direct intervention, alleged and proven.

This is the absolute crux of our disagreement, of our difference. Itis both a juridical and political question. In this connection, we havenot heard in this room a single categorical affirmation that makes itreasonably certain that the threat to peace and security represented bythe Cuban Government's continuing acts of intervention no longer exists.All that has happened is that, in the face of the evidence submitted by myGovernment, speakers have brandished or quoted excerpts from United Statesnewspapers that would contend that the danger has disappeared.

346

Becau~ce of the direct acts of intervention in my country, we still

regard Cuba as a threat to the peace and security of the hemisphere.Nothing has been said in this room to dispute this fact. Nor has therebeen any g~sture, any attitude, any movement on the part of the Governmentof Cuba that might suggest a change or a substantial and genuine shift inthat course of conduct.

Therefore, to simply lift the sanctions is absolutely unacceptable toUruguay~ However, as I had occasion to say in my general statement, thisis not obstinacy, or visceral hostility toward the Government and peopleof Cuba~ It is simply that the political and juridical process of theinter-AJnerican system should provide the guarantees, the conditions andthe circumstances that do not exist today for anyone and that in thespecific case of my country we have proven do not exist.

With respect to certain statements made in the room, I also wish topoint out that the negative vote of three delegations does not in itselfrepresent a veto of the draft resolution submitted by Colombia, CostaRica, and Venezuela. It is simply that nine member states of thisOrganization do not share the certainty felt by the states proposing thediscontinuation of the measures applied against Cuba. It is therefore nota matter of three votes against the discontinuation of measures, becausethe outcome would have been the same had theses delegations abstained.The prescribed majority would not have been obtained that way either. Itis simply that the group of states that have voted in favor of the draftresolution have not obtained the ma'jority required by the Regulations,because nine states were not of the same opinion.

Nor can I ignore the insinuation that the responsibility for the

future if the inter-American system is being attributed to the fact thatmy country in particular, along with others--but each on its own--hasvoted the way it has. Earh countlY must assume its own share of theresponsibility. Each country acts in accordance with its conscience, itslaws, and its sovereignty; but it is not the responsibility of one groupor another group of countries but of the countries individually in

accordance with their acts.

The steps to be taken in the future will be decided, therefore, byeach state, and the responsibility is incumbent upon each. Moreover, itis neither possible nor legitimate to request nine countries that do notshare the position of the others to join them in order to constitute therequired majority. In the opinion of my country, this constitutes thestrength of democratic guarantees, i.e., that no one may be compelled tochange his opinion and his vote just to join the others and form therequired two-thirds majority. All that has happened is that a proposalwas submitted and did not obtain the required number of votes. That is

all.

347 -

For the same ,reason, I cannot accept the assertion that this positionhampers the revitalization of the inter-American system. I believe thatthe revitalization of the inter-American system will be as easy as thefuture actions of each of us make it. In this connection, the Governmentof Uruguay will continue, as it has up to now, to devote all its effortsand its support to the inter-American system, as I said at the beginningof this Meeting, whatever the outcome of the vote may be.

The outcome of the vote will not in any way alter Uruguay's positionwith regard to the inter-American system, nor its faithful and completerespect for international law and its wholehearted desire to cooperatewith all the brother nations represented at this table.

In WITNESS THEREOF, the Members of theConsultation of Ministers of Foreign AffairsConsultation in application of the Inter-AmericanAssistance sign the present Final Act.

Fjfteenth Meeting of

serving as Organ ofTreaty of Reciprocal

Done in the city of Quito, Ecuador, in the four official lal.::;uages ofthe Organization, on November twelve, nineteen hundred seventy-four.

The Secretary General shall deposit the original of the Final Act inthe Archives of the General Secretariat in Washington, D.C., which shalltransmit certified copies thereof to the governments of the member statessignatories to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance.

(s)FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Victor Crysostom McIntyre

s) Emilio O. RabasaFOR MEXI CO

Miguel Angel de la Flor ValleFOR PERU (s)

(s)FOR PANAMA Juan Antonio Tack

Victor GOmez BergesFOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (5)

Ricardo Arturo Pineda MillaFOR HONDURAS (8)

Robert S. Ingersoll(5)FOR THE UNITED STATES

FOR URUGUAY (8) Juan Carlos Blanco

(s)FOR GUATEMALA Adolfo Molina Orantes

FOR CHILE (5) Patricia Carvajal Prado

Gonzalo J. Facio Segreda(s)FOR COSTA RICA

348

FOR PARAGUAY (9) Raul Sapena Pastor

FOR BOLIVIA (s) Alberto Guzman Soriano

FOR BRAZIL (8) Antonio Francisco Azeredoda Silveira

FOR ARGENTINA (8) Antonio J. Benitez

FOR NICARA-GUA (8) Alejandro Montiel ArguOello

( ~ )FOR COLOMBIA lndalecio Lievano Aguirre

FOR EL SALVADOR (s) Mauricio Borgonovo Pohl

FOR HAITI (s) Edner Brutus

FOR VENEZUELA (8) Efra!n Schacht Aristiguieta

FOR ECUADOR (s) Antonio Jose Lucio Paredes

t;

349

APPENDIX

FIFTEENTH MEETING OF CONSULTATIONOF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRSNovember 8, 1974Quito, Ecuador

OEA/Ser.F/II.15Doc. 19/74 corr. 1November 10, 1974

Original: Spanish

DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY THE DELEGATIONSOF COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA AND VENEZUELA

WHEREAS:

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, byresolution CP/RES. 117 (133/74) of September 20, 1974, which was approvedunanimously, convoked this Meeting so that the Organ of Consultation ofInter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, in strict observance ofthe principle of nonintervention by a state in the affairs of otherstates, and bearing in mind the change in the circumstances that existedwhen the measures against the Government of Cuba were adopted, mightdecide whether there is justification for discontinuing the application ofResolution I if the Ninth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of ForeignAffairs, held in Washington, D.C., in 1964; and

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Special Delegates havestated the positions of their respective governmerlts with regard to thesubject matter of the resolution convoking the meeting,

THE FIFTEENTH MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,SERVINGS AS ORGAN OF CONSULTATION IN APPlICATION OF THE INTER-AMERICANTREATY OF RECIPROCAL ASSISTANCE

RESOLVES:

Resolution I ofForeign Affairs,

the Ninthheld in

1. To discontinue the application ofMeeting of Consultation of Ministers ofWashington, D.C., in 1974.

2. To request the governments of the American states faithfully toobserve the principle of nonintervention and to abstain form any act

inconsistent therewith.

resolution thetoof the present3. To transmit the next textSecurity Council of the United Nations.