Quito, November 12 (RHC) -– The General Secretary of the Union of Latin American Nations (UNASUR) Ernesto Samper has criticized the exclusion of Cuba from the Summit of the Americas, describing it as like sitting at the dinner table without inviting a family member.

The statement, made by Samper on his Twitter account, mirrors a position shared by Latin American nations, which back Cuba's participation at the upcoming April 2015 Summit of the Americas in Panama.

The Organization of American States (OAS), which organizes the summits, expelled Cuba in 1962 in an effort to isolate the Caribbean nation following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

The regional claim has been expressed by Ecuador, which did not attend the 2012 summit in Colombia in protest for the absence of Cuba; Nicaragua has also supported Cuba's attendance as well as Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia, but Washington opposes such stance.

A UNASUR ministerial meeting held last May adopted a declaration expressing their will that Cuba be present at the upcoming summit unconditionally and on equal grounds.