The government of President Luis Abinader is fully identified with the pre-clearance agreement between the United States and the Dominican Republic and is awaiting a ruling in the Constitutional Court.
“We consider that the argument used in an annex to the agreement, which refers to the issue of refugee conventions, is a false argument that has nothing to do with the pre-clergy,” said Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez, consulted by Listín Diario on the subject. .
The chancellor said that the issue was kept in the hands of the Constitutional Court, which has the last word on whether or not its application violates the Constitution of the Republic.
“We hope that eventually the Constitutional Court will give the green light in this regard, but I give the position of the government, we are completely in favor of the agreement, we believe it would help Dominican tourism,” Alvarez said.
The agreement signed by both countries will allow passengers to be checked at Punta Cana airport by the United States customs and protection agency, which would avoid regular inspections on flights to North American soil.
If it enters into force, flights to local and not just international air terminals, as is the case today, could depart from the airports indicated in the agreement.
In this regard, the administrative minister of the presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, said that the “pre-clarification” agreement in the hands of the Constitutional Court is a task of high national priority. “It would generate over 1 million tourists a year. We would be in tune with the Bahamas, Canada, Abu Dhabi, among other countries, which have accessed 160 new destinations, “said the official.
Haiti, United States and Dominican Republic
Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez believes the Dominican Republic should make the United States aware of the Haitian problem so that it is understood that the country can work with Haiti, but that it will never be its solution.
“We have to work on the black rubber in North America. We need to make the United States aware that we can work with Haiti, but we will never be the solution, “the foreign minister told Listin Breakfast.
“We can do everything in the power of the Dominicans to stabilize and help development, but never in life … And we have to say that very clearly to the United States, to the United States. We lacked that, we couldn’t explain ourselves clearly, we didn’t know how to sell ourselves “, said the chancellor.
When asked why such things have not been said so far, the chancellor says it is due to a lack of “consistent professional external service”.
He considered that, from a historical point of view, the foreign service was treated as political prey, where there are trained staff, good people in the service, but so far there has been no coherence.
The chancellor said that they approached the administration of former President Donald Trump trying to balance the Dominican political field to some extent. “This has helped the election to be freer, fairer, fairer,” he said.
He also points out that the new President of the United States, Joe Biden, has already taken measures in favor of Dominicans, with his first provisions on “dreamers”, young people who were born with irregular immigration status and will be able to regularize their status. to a way to reach nationality.
The Minister points out that in this group of beneficiaries there are between 9 and 10 thousand Dominicans, whom he considers “not a few”.
The Dominican foreign minister believes that where US policy will change is that more care is now being taken for the environment and they could be “a little more activist in unionism”.
About Venezuela and Haiti
The Dominican Republic ceased to recognize the Venezuelan National Assembly, continuing its term after January 5. He also does not recognize Juan Guaidó as interim president “because we understand that this would set a bleak precedent for the future.”
“In the case of Venezuela, we believe that a negotiation with the regime is necessary. Even if you don’t like Maduro, he is the interlocutor, in order to negotiate you need two parties “, comments the Dominican foreign minister.
Today, the country has no official relations with the Maduro government.
The Dominican Republic has a difference from the United States in terms of Haiti. “The United States wants elections before constitutional reform. And I told you, if the elections take place first, there will be no constitutional reform. So clear, “he says.