Former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe said that the Organization of American States needs to be “more effective” in dealing with issues currently facing Central American states, reports EFE.
Uribe was referring specifically to the October 21 “invasion” by Nicaraguan troops of a Costa Rican island on the San Juan River which borders the two nations, and the failure of the OAS to recognizes the new government in Honduras.
“The OAS will have to find ways to be more effective in solving problems like this invasion of Costa Rica by Nicaragua,” Uribe said during an interview on Honduran television.
Uribe is in the Honduran capital, Tugucigalpa, to attend a conference on private enterprise, and will meet with Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, who was elected in January of this year.
The former president described the situation between Nicaragua and Costa Rica as “serious” and criticized the OAS for not taking a stand on the issue.
“The situation seems very serious, because Costa Rica … is a country with no army, and has built peace and prosperity without an army. It is a very important model for the world,” he said.
Uribe also called on the OAS to halt its suspension of Honduras which was enacted following the coup which brought down former president Manuel Zelaya in June last year.
“I think it is nonsense that the OAS retains its decision not to reinstate Honduras, which has a democratic government, a government which respects institutions, a government that is leading a peaceful and constructive dialogue,” Uribe said.
Despite his misgivings, Uribe said that he remained a “strong supporter” of the organization of American States, and recalled that when the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) was created, his Colombian government was very clear that it wold not go against the OAS.