When asked to comment on Venezuela’s mediation role in the conflict between the Dominican Republic and Haiti by a Venezuelan journalist from the Ultimas Noticias media outlet, controversial Venezuelan President Maduro stated: “We are unconditional brothers of the people of Haiti, and whoever messes with the people of Haiti is messing with the Venezuelan people. They are our older brothers, our most beloved brothers and fortunately the Dominican Republic has shown wisdom and has established a work schedule as of now. We are going to appoint a special envoy and I am assessing who has the qualifications for genuinely providing help so that the obstacles are overcome and the Haitian people are guaranteed their fundamental rights, and there are guarantees for overcoming the differences between Haiti and the Dominican Republic that have to be two brother peoples. We have to get over the historic obstacles that are left over from the old colonial times and that sometimes still persist, such as the oligarchy, the right, which is always trying to sow hatred against the people of Guyana, hatred against the people of Colombia, hatred against Latin America – anti-Bolivarian hate,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dominican Presidential legal advisor Cesar Pina Toribio said that he preferred to focus on where Maduro said he backs the Dominican government in finding a solution to the problem. Pina says there is no retracting from the contents of the Constitutional Court ruling 168-13. He said that talks needed to continue, awareness of the delicate situation, and that the details should not separate the commissions of both countries in the search for a friendly solution in harmony with both parties. “The talks need to be directed to find mechanisms so that the DR can put into place, respecting and implementing the ruling, but that the matter can be resolved in a humanitarian manner, as President Medina has promised, but never unheeding the ruling,” said Pina Toribio.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti are major beneficiaries of PetroCaribe, a preferential financing program for oil purchases from Venezuela.
Others, including news commentator Alfredo Freites, say that Maduro has disqualified himself from being a mediator between Haiti and the DR with this statement.
www.listindiario.com/puntos-de-vista/2014/1/2/305372/Expresion-inmadura
http://guasabaraeditor.blogspot.com/2013/12/pina-toribio-no-cree-que-declaraciones.html
www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/politica/entrevista—maduro-el-congreso-del-psuv-discutira.aspx#ixzz2pEb6d562