As his term in the Dominican Republic comes to an end, German Ambassador Volker Pellet gave an interview to Diario Libre to wrap up his experience here. He addressed key issues, such as the political, economic and security crisis in Haiti, the German Embassy’s contributions to renewable energies, and cultural contributions.
Pellet acknowledged during the interview that there is a will of the international community to help Haiti, but at the same time, he said there is a “tiredness” due to the lack of results. He understands the concerns that the world seems to be leaving the Dominican Republic alone to support Haiti, where armed gangs now seem to be in control.
He remarked that a German company, Dermalog is providing the biometric technology that will be used for the perimeter fence the Dominican government is building at key sections of the border with Haiti. Pellet favors the construction of the fence. “For reasons of national security, the Dominican Republic has to control its border,” Pellet told Diario Libre during the interview. He said he has traveled on the international road between both countries on several occasions.
The term of Germany’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic ends at the end of this month, after four years of diplomatic service. “It will not be easy to return, especially because of the (Russia-Ukraine) war… This war hurts all Europeans,” Pellet said during the interview.
He said the dependence of European countries, especially Germany, on Russian gas and the rising prices are having social consequences. “That is the scenario that awaits me,” he said.
Although he is leaving, the career diplomat said he will continue to keep an eye on developments in the country because he will now be director for Latin America at the Federal Foreign Office.
Volker Pellet is pleased that the support to renewable energies in the country has given fruit. He said he worked hard to support the transition in the energy matrix to one with more focus on renewable energies. He highlighted the work of the GIZ, the German international cooperation agency.
“We have achieved the creation of knowledge,” he stressed, in addition to the supplying of German technology, capital and investments. He mentioned the micro-projects promoted by the German Embassy to ensure that remote and rural communities now have access to electricity through solar panels.
Pellet highlighted that more work is needed to fight against plastic waste in the country and protect nature.
Pellet had praise for the actions of the Abinader administration to manage the Covid-19 pandemic, the recovery of tourism and the economy. He said the German embassy has been active in communicating that the Dominican Republic is safe for Germans to travel to.
“You have in the President [Luis Abinader] and his Vice President [Raquel Peña] and some ministers, top politicians in the international framework. I am convinced they want only the best for their country,” he added.
He valued the work being done by Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez in the Ministry of Foreign Relations to improve and professionalize the diplomatic service. “He has done it against all resistance,” Pellet commented.
At the cultural level, Pellet is proud of the presentation here of the Berlin Philharmonic with the concert “All Beethoven,” in cooperation with the Symphony Foundation and Maestro José Antonio Molina. The Leipzig Philharmonic also made a concert tour cooperating with the Cibao Orchestra.
A historical fragment of the Berlin Wall was presented to the city of Santo Domingo on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its fall and the 60th anniversary of the execution of the Dominican dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo.
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Diario Libre
7 July 2022