The Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday adopted a resolution to end a 47-year exclusion of Cuba, a decision most Latin American governments cheered but one met with a snub from Cuba itself.

At the OAS' 39th general assembly, which brought together 34 foreign ministers to the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, senior officials queued up to praise the body's decision to readmit the Caribbean republic.

"The Cold War has ended this day in San Pedro Sula," said Honduran President Manuel Zelaya immediately following the announcement. "We begin a new era of fraternity and tolerance."

Cuba was barred from attending OAS meetings in 1962 due to its close ties with the former Soviet Union, although it continues on paper to be the 35th member state.

"It is a revindication and a recognition of revolutionary Cuba," Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said, "The nations of the Americas are no longer colonies nor the United States' backyard."

"This is really a historic moment for the OAS," said Mariano Fernandez, Chile's foreign minister.

"It reflects a change of era that Latin America is going through," Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Fander Falconi said.

However, Cuba's Fidel Castro, who left office as the island country's leader in 2006, was less than impressed. In an article published on Wednesday's state-run media, Castro slammed the OAS had "opened the doors to the Trojan horse" -- the U.S. -- to wreak havoc in Latin America.

"At one time or another, all of the countries of Latin America had been victims of Washington's interventions and political and economic aggression," he wrote, in an article published Wednesday.

Cuba and its leaders have repeatedly announced they are not interested in rejoining the OAS.

Days before, Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma described the OAS as a "pestilent corpse".

On Wednesday, the OAS approved a resolution which does not explicitly impose conditions on Cuba before its returning, something that triggered a walkout by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from a Tuesday meeting drawing up the resolution.

However, the resolution asks Cuba to apply for the readmission, and to develop via dialogue a mechanism that "conforms to OAS practices, proposals and principles" which includes the body's democratic guidelines.

Source:Xinhua