President Danilo Medina and Minister of Foreign Relations Carlos Morales Troncoso met at the Presidential Palace yesterday, Tuesday 17 June 2014 to discuss details of today’s visit by US Vice President Joseph Biden. Biden is scheduled for a meeting with President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace tomorrow, Thursday 19 June. Another top agenda item is to finalize the details for hosting the Summit of Heads of State and Government for the Central American Integration System (SICA) that will take place in Punta Cana from 25 to 27 June 2014. Minister of Foreign Relations Morales Troncoso told the press: “We are sure that Vice President Biden’s visit will contribute to strengthening cooperation relations that are currently at a stellar moment.”
Biden is coming for the inauguration of the new US Embassy compound.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations and Presidency spokesman Roberto Rodriguez Lamarcha have denied rumors that the Minister of Foreign Relations will resign on 16 August 2014, as reported in acento.com.do. The local news media has been following up on alleged dismissals at the Ministry of Foreign Relations after a visit to the Ministry by Controller General Rafael Germosen Andujar on Thursday, 12 June 2014. As reported, the Controller was looking into alleged irregularities, lack of transparency and corruption evidence, unnamed sources told reporters from acento.com.do.
In another Ministry of Foreign Relations related event, the Chamber of Deputies has sent a bill for restructuring the Ministry to the permanent commission for foreign relations-related topics, as reported in Diario Libre. The bill had expired on several occasions after it was first sent by the Executive Branch in 2011. Deputy Minou Tavarez Mirabal re-introduced the bill on 23 March 2014, explaining that it had expired because of lack of political will. The proposals in the bill include limiting political appointments to 50%, and for the rest to be career diplomats.
For more on the topic:
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/06/18/i661941_joe-biden-llega-hoy-para-reunirse-con-danilo-medina.html
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/06/18/i661401_canciller-rene-con-danilo-medio-rumores-renuncia.html
La Cancillería por dentro: El círculo de hierro; el decreto que Danilo se negó a firmar
Danilo pasa aplanadora en Cancillería, se lleva a los Bogaert: Contralor investiga irregularidades
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/16/us-dominican-consuls-idUSBREA4F0JL20140516