The President had encouraging words for the establishment of close ties with Haiti in his 27 February speech. “I believe that the two nations on a single island of barely 78,000 square kilometers should live united like two Siamese twins, but separated politically because we are of two distinct ethnic groups.
The Haitians would never resign themselves to being part of a single republic, governed by the Dominican Republic. They are nationalistic, furiously nationalistic; and we are, too.” President Balaguer then referred to the liberators of both nations, Louverture and Duarte who fought for freedom from foreign powers.
He went on to explain: “But both peoples are aware that we need to unite to confront the problems that destiny may bring, with or without foreign intervention. I am, therefore, very partial to a close union with Haiti, in commerce, in economic development, in plans related to health and education, and above all in plans that relate to the survival of our two countries from the ecological aspect.”