PARLACEN COURTS THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 004656 SIPDIS DEPT PASS USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EINT ETRD DR SUBJECT: PARLACEN COURTS THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ¶1. Central American Parliament (Parlacen) President Augusto Vela Mena, addressing a joint session of the GODR's National Congress in Santo Domingo August 27, announced that the proposed entry of the Dominican Republic into the System of Central American Integration had been forwarded to the presidents of the Central American nations for approval. Vela Mena, of Guatemala, advocated "political union" as a means for Central American and Caribbean nations to increase their clout in the international arena. New Dominican Senate President Jesus Vazquez Martinez (PRD),in follow-on remarks, called for revision of Dominican law to authorize local election of Parlacen representatives. ¶2. Vela Mena asserted that only by acting jointly in trade negotiations could Central America and the Caribbean gain access to the world's biggest markets. The new speaker of the Dominican Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco (PRD), called on the region to embrace globalization and free trade to speed development and reduce poverty. Senate President Vazquez acknowledged the importance of free trade, but cautioned that the Caribbean and Central America would need "reciprocity" from major partners in order to benefit. ¶3. The joint session kicked off the XII Conference of Political Parties of Central America and the Caribbean. The Parlacen delegation, in addition to Vela Mena, included vice presidents Rodrigo Samayoa Riva (El Salvador),Gladys de Carrasquilla of Panama, Leopoldo Navarro (Nicaragua), Fernando Lardizalbal (Honduras),and Soila Rojas de Tejada (Dominican Republic). ¶4. Comment: Both Central American and Dominican parliamentarians appeared eager for regional integration. The Central Americans' attitude has evolved since their previous opposition to the Dominican Republic's proposed "docking" with CAFTA. KUBISKE