The governments of Cuba and the Dominican re-established full diplomatic relations on 16 April 1998. Minister of Foreign Relations Eduardo Latorre made the announcement on 21 April in a press conference. Concurrently, Minister of Foreign Relations Roberto Robaina made the announcement in Havana, Cuba. "The re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba is in line with the new foreign policy of the government of President Leonel Fernández, which seeks closer ties with neighboring countries, especially with the Caribbean," said Latorre. The Dominican Republic broke diplomatic ties with Cuba in June 1959, following the issuing of an Organization of American States resolution. Of the nations that heeded the OAS resolution at the time, only the United States and El Salvador do not have official relations with Cuba. The DR and Cuba have yet to appoint their ambassadors. President Fidel Castro is expected to visit in August, 1998 on occasion of the holding in Santo Domingo of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) heads of state summit. During that meeting the DR is expected to sign a free trade agreement with the Caricom. In December 1997, the Dominican Republic re-established consular relationship with Cuba, enabling Dominican businessmen to trade openly with Cuba. U.S. Embassy spokesman Michael Stanton said that the U.S. was "very disappointed" with the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. The U.S. official argued that democratic conditions are not present in Cuba. An estimated 5,000 Cubans live in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican consulate in Cuba reports there are 60 Dominicans living in Cuba. The Dominican government recently relocated the squatters that had occupied the former Embassy of Cuba in Santo Domingo, a Gazcue hacienda.
