Deputy Pelegr?n Castillo urges the government to put the interests of the Dominican Republic first and not give in to international pressures in regards to Haiti. Speaking on TV last night with Frederico Henriquez Gratereaux, he questioned how former Haitian police chief Guy Phillipe entered the Dominican Republic from Ecuador when there is a prohibition on his admittance. Philippe has been accused of conspiring to overthrow the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide.
Castillo emphasizes that national interests oblige the country to keep the best of relations with whoever governs Haiti. He explained that turmoil and civil war in Haiti would only result in a massive inflow of indigent Haitians to the DR, which should be avoided at all costs by the Dominican state.
As reported in the List?n Diario, Pelegr?n said that given the explosive situation in Haiti and the risks of great violence in the case of a civil war, Dominican policy with Haiti should be directed to avoid Domnican implication in any plot to topple the Haitian government that international interests may have underway. Castillo had said in a press conference at the Chamber of Deputies that ?to assume the role of pivot state in the relations with Haiti is something that, in the conjuncture of a wasted government that wants to retain power, may be seen as convenient, but strategically, this will end up affecting the real interests of the nation, its potential to develop and even its formal sovereignty.?
The United States should not continue abusing the vulnerability and dependency of a government weakened by corruption and drug trafficking to involve the Dominican Republic in high-risk situations that are contrary to our own interests, he said.
In his opinion, the situation in which Haiti finds itself now is the product of irresponsible and cynical policies of the international organizations. He said that Haiti?s situation would only be resolved by a transparent, serious and sustained effort at rebuilding Haiti in Haiti.