It is likely that apparel production at Dominican industrial free zones will receive a boost by year’s end. During a meeting with President Leonel Fernández at the White House, President Bill Clinton agreed to include the Dominican Republic in a trade agreement with Africa, that is expected to be passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate prior to the end of this year. As explained, the DR, and other Caribbean nations and Central America, will be included in the bill. As a result, they will benefit from the same trade conditions Mexico received as signatory of the North American Free Trade Agreement. President Leonel Fernández and President Bill Clinton met at the White House for about 45 minutes on June 11. Textile parity was high on the agenda as DR has been affected by the quota-less and duty-free conditions Mexico is offering to US textile contractors. But the Presidents also discussed the repatriation of Dominicans that have sentences pending in the US, the extradition of Dominicans sought by US justice, drug trafficking across the Haitian frontier, the preferential sugar quota, and the foreign debt with the US. President Fernández described the meeting as "transcendental." He said that it was a historic meeting where the friendship and fraternity ties that exist between the US and the DR were reaffirmed. President Fernández also highlighted that the invitation to visit the White House was received following his participation in the UN Drug Summit held in New York City. "… I believe it is a recognition to Dominican efforts to advance human rights, strengthen democratic institutions and be part of the international community," said President Fernández. In a press conference at the end of his meeting with President Clinton, President Fernández said that he requested assistance from President Clinton to be able to guide Dominicans that are being repatriated for crimes committed in the US, primarily drug trafficking, to help them re integrate into Dominican society. President Fernández explained the local concern with effectively dealing with these US-trained delinquents and the fear these may bring to Dominican society previously unknown violent crimes and an increase in the illicit drug trade due to the skills acquired in the US. So far this year, the US has deported 719 delinquents. It is estimated that almost one million Dominicans live in the US. President Fernández said that there is the will in his government to continue extraditing criminals required by US justice. He said that his government will continue to promote a bill that will provide the legal framework for extraditions. While the US and the DR signed an extradition treaty in 1909, a 1961 law prohibits the extradition of Dominicans. As a result, several Dominicans who have broken the law in the US have returned to the DR to escape fulfilling their sentences. The Presidents also discussed the request by the Dominican government that the US assist the DR with new technology to patrol the border with Haiti. The frontier with Haiti is one of the most vulnerable points for introducing drugs into the DR for later shipment to Puerto Rico and then to the US. The DR has also requested assistance in training personnel to effectively combat drug contraband across the DR frontier with Haiti. President Clinton promised to interfere in favor of the DR so that the Dominican quota in the US preferential sugar market is not reduced. President Fernández said he also emphasized the impact of the foreign debt has on the DR economy. He said he requested that the US, through the Department of Treasury, study establishing some novel form regarding the DR foreign debt with the US that would be beneficial for the DR economy. "President Clinton told us that he wants to help the DR because he is aware that we are doing a great effort so that the country can become modern and play a leadership role in the Caribbean and Central America," said President Fernández. Present at the meeting with Clinton for the Dominican government were Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduardo Latorre; Secretary of the Presidency Danilo Medina; Technical Secretary of the Presidency Temístocles Montás; DR Ambassador before the US Bernardo Vega; and Minister of the Armed Forces, Paulino Alvarez. President Clinton was accompanied by presidential drug advisor General Barry McCaffrey, and Thomas McClarty, advisor to the White House on Latin American and Caribbean affairs. General McCaffrey recently visited President Fernández in the DR.
