President Danilo Medina returned to the Dominican Republic around 9:30pm on Monday, 18 September 2017, to be here as Hurricane Maria makes its way west through the Caribbean. He had originally scheduled to return on Thursday, 21 September. But, in New York, he announced that his Tuesday speech before the United Nations General Assembly would be given by Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas.
In New York, President Medina held a bilateral meeting with secretary general of the United Nations Antonio Guterres to discuss climate change, Caribbean hurricanes, and the talks between the Venezuelan government and MUD opposition group brokered by President Medina. President Medina also participated in a meeting to discuss the effects of Hurricane Irma together with representatives of countries that suffered damages. Medina called for creating a solidarity fund for the prevention and reconstruction of Caribbean nations affected by weather disasters.
President Danilo Medina and former President Leonel Fernandez both traveled to New York on Sunday, 17 September 2017, to carry out separate agendas.
Medina was participating in the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations that started Monday, 18 September in Manhattan. There, on Sunday, 17 September, he met with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres to discuss the Venezuelan crisis, climate change, the Dominican candidacy for the non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council among other topics.
He is accompanied by his wife, First Lady Cándida Montilla (who has a separate, full work agenda) the Foreign Relations Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado, Administrative Minister of the Presidency José Ramón Peralta, Presidency communications director, Roberto Rodríguez Marchena, among others.
The Dominican government mission stayed at the Langham Place hotel on Fifth Avenue.
Meanwhile, former President Fernandez will be taking part in a golf tournament in New York organized by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (Funglode) of which he is president. He was met at the airport by more than 50 people, shouting “Roar, roar, The Lion,” referring to his possible presidential candidacy for the ruling PLD party in 2020.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
El Nacional
7 Dias
Presidencia
19 September 2017
