President Fernández Stresses Strengthening Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic

President Fernández Stresses Strengthening Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo 05/16/2011

Dominican President Leonel Fernández stressed the historic importance in Dominican-Haiti relations as he participated in the inauguration of Haiti’s new President Michel Martelly.

“The fact that a sitting Dominican president can come here to this democratic transition in Haiti indicates that we are living in a time of democracy in Latin America,” said Fernández.

In declarations to the international press last Saturday, President Fernández pointed out that it was the first time a Dominican president has ever attended a Haitian presidential inauguration following a free and fair election process.

“The fact that a sitting Dominican president can come here to this democratic transition in Haiti indicates that we are living in a time of democracy in Latin America,” said Fernández.

The President spoke with President Martelly about the need to reactivate the Mixed Bilateral Commission to deal with the common issues between the two countries, according to the President’s Press Office.

The Head of State said the Dominican Republic has a relationship with Haiti in various areas including commerce, investment, immigration and the ongoing reconstruction of Port-au-Prince, following last year’s devastating earthquake.

He pointed out that the world now has a different perception of the relations between the two neighboring countries following the outpouring of solidarity on the part of the Dominican people after the earthquake.

President Fernández also had a bilateral meeting with French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppé, with whom he spoke about the challenges facing the Dominican Republic and Haiti and how France can collaborate to strengthen these relations.

Fernández appealed to the international community to speed up its reconstruction plans in Haiti.

The Dominican leader also posed the need for France to take the lead in the G-20’s proposal for a worldwide pact against food and fuel speculation.
Foreign Minister Juppé expressed an interest in discussing that topic with French President Nicolás Sarkozy.

President Fernández then met with the Russian Ambassador to Haiti, Vladimir Zaesmskiy, with whom he discussed the bilateral agenda between the two countries.
Those who accompanied Fernández to Haiti for President Martelly’s inauguration include Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso; Senator from San José Ocoa, Carlos Castillo and Rafael Núñez, Director of the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.