Tuesday, March 27, 2012

ARTICLE - MARTELLY - RESULTS OF D.R. VISIT

RESULTS OF THE VISIT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OF PRESIDENT MARTELLY
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, at the end of his visit to the Dominican Republic, this Monday, March 26, has signed with his counterpart, Leonel Fernández, a Joint Declaration aimed at strengthening the good neighborly relations between the two peoples. "Geography commands us to cultivate living together for the welfare of our respective peoples" argued President Martelly.

The signing of this document will allow the two heads of state to give their full support to the Joint Bilateral Haitian-Dominican Commission, as a fundamental mechanism for dialogue between the two countries, and to boost cooperation for the benefit of mutual development. President Martelly, and his local counterpart stated that migration issues, often complex, deserve an appropriate solution for the benefit of both states, and reaffirmed their commitment to a policy of secure borders, and without barriers to trade between the two countries.

"These relationships, despite the ups and downs that can be considered as family quarrels, have amply given their position of solidarity," said President Martelly.

On the other hand, the Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Laurent Lamothe, and Minister of External Relations of Dominican Republic, Carlos Morales Troncoso, signed a Memorandum of Agreement establishing the Bolivarian Fund of Solidarity with Haiti that will allow the financing of projects identified by the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic or by the Executive Committee of the Fund.

The Fund that will be domiciled at the Reserve Bank of the Dominican Republic, will be administered by the Haitian and Dominican chancellors, and fueled by the deposit of the amounts that correspond to the payment of the debt service of the Dominican Republic for imports of oil and its derivatives under the Petro Caribe agreement. Both countries are agreed to bring the Fund's capital to a maximum of $500 million U.S. dollars.

President Leonel Fernández has announced that he wants to start with a project aimed at the elimination of charcoal for cooking by replacing them with LPG stoves, on the basis of the successful experience of the Dominican Republic. With this fund it will be possible to give 2 million LPG stoves to the Haitian nation, and fight against deforestation. Various other projects will be financed by this fund, including in the areas of energy, of health, with the construction of several new hospitals on both sides of the border, trade, and education...

Meanwhile, the Haitian Head of State, was awarded of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez y Mella in the Grade of the Grand Cross Gold Plaque by President Fernández, who wanted by this gesture to commend the constant efforts of President Martelly to the development and reconstruction of Haiti.

President Martelly declared "the honor that you give to me by elevating to the rank of a recipient of the highest distinction granted by your country is beyond my immediate person and reflects on the people who entrusted me with their destiny. I once again express my feelings to see me honored with the highest honor of the Dominican Republic. I assure you that I will show myself worthy. And I will end my remarks with this cry from the depths of my person: Long live forever the Haitiano-Dominican brotherhood."

After a dinner with President Leonel Fernández, the Haitian Head of State went in late afternoon to the Embassy of Haiti in Santo Domingo. Welcomed by Haitian students, the meeting focused on education in general, on education subsidies, and on certain points; such as student visas, their social position, and the provisions of both states to address some problems they confront in the Dominican Republic.

No comments: