Dominican and Puerto Rican Authorities Agree to Strengthen a Strategic Alliance

Dominican and Puerto Rican Authorities Agree to Strengthen a Strategic Alliance
Santo Domingo, 16/10/2010

Dominican President Leonel Fernández Governor of the Associated Free State of Puerto Rico, Luís Fortuño, agreed to a strengthening of a strategic Alliance between both countries in the areas of educational exchange, science, culture and technology. 

“with which up until now we have been able to work and I promise the Puerto Rican people to place that same impetus on this work that the President and the Dominican people have put on this strategic alliance between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico that will reap benefits for both of our people.”

Fernández, Dominican Vice President Rafael Alburquerque and Mr. Fortuño gave a joint press conference following their 2-hour meeting.

The President said that in each of the areas discussed, they formed subcommittees to further research the proposals they put forward, such as those related to a comprehensive energy project in the Caribbean area, “which now requires a feasibility study and research to become familiar with the major details on how it will benefit Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic,” according to the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

President Fernández explained that he agreed to work for the reactivation of the Ferris operations involving the Santo Domingo-Mayagüez road which has been paralyzed by a conflict between the two private interest groups.

“The subcommittees for these different areas are formed to work out the details of the agreements and we are certain that beginning now they are going to contribute to strengthening the links of friendship and brotherhood that have historically existed between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic,” said the Head of State.
Fernández and Fortuño congratulated the government and the people of Chile for the successful rescue of 33 miners trapped underground since August 5.
Speaking with reporters at the press conference in the Ambassadors Hall of the National Palace, President Fernández said that he was profoundly honored and pleased by the Puerto Rican governor´s visit.

He added that this was an opportune moment for the visit, “now that we are meeting at a time when there is something generating a great deal of joy among Dominicans which is the rescue of the Chilean miners…we know that 9 of them, at least for the moment, have managed to make it to the surface to be integrated into Chilean society.”

For his part, Fortuño said he was content to visit the DR and was sure the links between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic will grow stronger under the leadership of President Fernández.

He added that the topic of energy dealt with in the meeting is of great importance for both people “and it is exactly the common direction we are heading to bring down the cost of energy, assure the distribution of electricity to our people and guarantee that we minimize environmental damage in the process.”
On the subject of commercial exchange, Fortuño said they wanted to develop a concept that in the past was successful not only in the Dominican Republic and in Puerto Rico but also with a view toward Haiti, “as a possibility where there may be a potential economic growth in the near future.”

He thanked the Dominican President for his leadership and for his work team “with which up until now we have been able to work and I promise the Puerto Rican people to place that same impetus on this work that the President and the Dominican people have put on this strategic alliance between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico that will reap benefits for both of our people.”

Other Dominican government officials at the meeting with President Fernández and Mr. Fortuño included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Morales Troncoso, Minister of the Presidency, César Pina Toribio; Administrative Minister, Luis Manuel Bonetti; Economy, Planning and Development, Temístocles Montás; Interior and Police Minister, Franklin Alemyda Rancier, and Minister for Industry and Commerce, José Ramón Fadul, among others.