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Brazil Defaults on US$ 8.1 Million in the OAS

03/10/2015 - 09h22

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PATRÍCIA CAMPOS MELLO
FROM SÃO PAULO

Brazil did not pay its compulsory contribution to the Organization of American States (OAS) last year. According to the entity's report obtained by Folha, the Brazilian government paid just US$ 1 in 2014, instead of the US$ 8.1 million it owed.

The country also did not inform the OAS when and if it intends to pay the US$ 10 million it owes for 2015.

This is only the latest of commitments with international bodies the Brazilian government has failed to honor. The country has not contributed financially to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for five years.

The newspaper "O Estado de S. Paulo" revealed that Brazil lost the right to vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency after accumulating a debt of US$ 35 million.

The country also los its rights at the International Criminal Court after accumulating US$ 6 million in debt.

In addition, Brazil owes US$ 76.8 million for regular UN activities and US$ 87.37 million for peace operations.

The cut of resources determined by the government's fiscal adjustment this year, combined with the steady fall in the Foreign Ministry budget, is behind the delays.

"Non-payment of OAS quota means the deliberate and reckless breach of an international obligation for Brazil," says Camila Asano, coordinator of Foreign Policy at Conectas Human Rights.

"This failure impacts several organs that depend on regular transfers from the organization, such as the Inter-American Commission, the main human rights body in the region."

When contacted, the Foreign Ministry confirmed only that the debt was not paid.

The Brazilian government's relationships with the OAS soured after the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, linked to the organization, requested in 2011 that Brazil suspend the licensing process for the Belo Monte dam because of its impact on the local community.

At the time, President Dilma Rousseff recalled Brazil's ambassador to the OAS, Ruy Casaes.

It has been four years since the country has had a representative in the entity.

Traditionally, Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela and Argentina oppose the OAS, which they believe to be overly influenced by the US.

The countries also criticized the organization for having suspended Cuba in 1962 after the communist revolution.

The suspension was revoked in 2009, but the country still has not returned to the OAS.

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

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