Yesterday?s meetings of government officials, including President Hip?lito Mej?a and Vice President Milagro Ortiz Bosch, and the educational, industrial, commercial and financial leaders of the Dominican Republic produced a series of accords that will enable the country to face the very likely war in Iraq. Among these accords are changes to government transportation, including the use of buses for the President and his cabinet. Other measures include fewer trips for officials, no new imports of official vehicles or other purchases that require the use of dollars.
At the end of the session, Finance Minister Jose Lois Malkum and Technical Secretary for the Presidency Rafael Calderon announced that they expected a decrease in the price of propane gas and other fuels in the coming weeks. The President also attended a luncheon meeting, held at the National Council of Business (CONEP) offices, which was hosted by Elena Viyella de Paliza, reportedly ?a friendly luncheon in which the President shared information with the business community?.