SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras, June 1, 2009 (AFP) - Leaders of 34 countries from the Organization of American States gather here Monday for a summit focusing on Cuba's possible return to the pan-American body after a 47-year absence.

The communist-ruled island was suspended from the organization in 1962 under pressure from the United States, which sought its diplomatic isolation.

The OAS summit on Tuesday and Wednesday is expected to make its first serious attempt in decades to resume Cuba's active participation in the organisation's work.

But positions staked out by various OAS members ahead of the meeting underscore difficulty in obtaining specific results.

Most Latin American countries favor an immediate and unconditional repeal of the 1962 resolution. But the United States insists that Havana first introduce democratic reforms and show respect for human rights and basic freedoms.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday reiterated that the United States would stand firm.

"We believe that membership in the OAS comes with responsibilities and that we must all hold each other accountable," she said.

"These responsibilities include abiding by the principles of democracy and human rights enshrined in the OAS charter and in the Inter-American democratic charter."

On Wednesday, Washington suggested creating a working group tasked with resolving the differences. The group met on Thursday and Friday in a bid to reach consensus, but without success.

Meanwhile, Cuba pointed out that it had no desire to resume its participation in the OAS.

Its official newspaper Granma called the organization "a stinking corpse" and "a decrepit structure built by Washington," to which it said the country will never return.

On Sunday, OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza admitted "disagreements" among member nations on the issue, but still expressed optimism about settling the matter.

He pointed out that the organization would try to reach "a decision by consensus," but in the end, a vote by two-thirds of OAS members was also possible.

Stephen Wilkinson, assistant director of the International Institute for the Study of Cuba at London Metropolitan University, said he believes it is unlikely Havana will accede to US demands.

"Since this is not at all likely, the US will oppose the move, there will therefore be no consensus," Wilkinson said.

But the United States, analysts said, could make a conciliatory gesture by agreeing that the OAS study the issue, which would be in line with President Barack Obama's wish to change relations with the island.

Since Obama took office in January, he has raised hopes among many of his southern neighbors that he could lift the Cuban economic embargo, even if he insists that Cuba first undertake democratic reforms.

The Obama administration has called past US policy a failure and moved to repair ties with Cuban President Raul Castro, who officially took over the reins from older brother Fidel last year.

In April, Obama lifted travel and money transfer restrictions on Cuban-Americans with relatives in Cuba. The two countries will now hold talks on migration and direct mail service.

But the OAS debate over Cuba participation is expected to be heated.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said that he would like to stand together with Cuba as an "excluded" member of the group.