Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said today that Cuba needs to make necessary changes to comply with the democratic principles that are the basis for the OAS before returning to the entity.

"We have been very clear about acting in a democratic manner, liberating political prisoners and respecting fundamental rights," emphasized Clinton.

All efforts to reinstate Cuba in the OAS are in Cuba's hands.

"If Cuba is not willing to" accept certain responsibilities, Clinton said, "I do not see how the country can form part of the OAS."

The OAS's Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, reiterated his desire for Cuba to be reincorporated into the OAS.

Cuba was suspended from the OAS in 1962 for ties to the Chinese and the Soviets, political blocks which were thought "incompatible" with the Latin American system.

President Barack Obama has already expressed his intention to begin a new phase of political interaction and diplomacy with Cuba.

In this sense, Obama has lifted many of the restrictions which limited the interaction between Cuba and the United States in many ways.

However, the United States still asks Cuba to accept democratic responsibilities and to respect human rights.