President Danilo Medina received the President of Haiti, Michel Martelly and the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy for a historic trilateral meeting in Punta Cana yesterday, Tuesday 22 July 2014. They were all wearing “guayaberas” the Dominican casual elegance outfit that serves as both shirt and suit in tropical etiquette. News reports said that Martelly was the last to arrive, about an hour and a half after the scheduled 10am meeting time.
The Presidency reported that Medina, Martelly and Van Rompuy discussed the projects that the European Union is funding in both countries and assessed the possibilities of increasing development projects in both countries in support of good neighborliness and mutual respect.
President Medina said that Dominicans and Haitians have lived on the island of Hispaniola for generations and the two countries have a long shared history. He said that when looking to the future they should consolidate cooperation in politics, economy and security to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the whole Caribbean.
He went on to say that the meeting was based on their will to strengthen the bonds between the countries even further, that the European Union had been a long term partner of both countries, and that Van Rompuy’s presence was tangible proof of the EU’s commitment to provide aid, support and contribute to the success of their joint initiatives.
During his remarks following the talks, the European Council president announced that the European Union would match words with deeds by providing substantial financing support to binational cooperation in areas such as economic development, infrastructure links, public health and the environment. He said that the DR and Haiti have already reached bilateral agreements to improve security, combat drug trafficking, protect natural resources and stimulate trade.
“The European Union is ready to share its experience on migration, customs, border management, trade, health and the environment and continue providing assistance for the implementation of the agreements reached in the framework of the High Level Binational Dialogue.”
President Medina asked for funding to build two border hospitals. Van Rompuy said that feasibility studies on joint infrastructure projects, including local health facilities, could be considered in the funding support.
Referring to the issue of granting Dominican naturalization to Haitians living in the Dominican Republic, most of whom have not secured legal documentation, he went on the record saying: “The European Union welcomes the adoption by the Dominican Congress of the special law regulating the status of people of foreign origin born in the Dominican Republic. This is an important step towards resolving a difficult and sensitive issue. I do not want to enter into a discussion on a question that goes to the heart of national sovereignty – and I did not do so today – but I think we all agree that it is a shared concern that requires a human solution.”
http://presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/declaraci%C3%B3n-rep%C3%BAblica-dominicana-hait%C3%AD-encuentro-trilateral-con-uni%C3%B3n-europea
http://presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/gobernantes-rd-hait%C3%AD-declaran-inter%C3%A9s-fortalecer-a%C3%BAn-m%C3%A1s-lazos-ambos-pa%C3%ADses
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/144101.pdf
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/144072.pdf