Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03SANTODOMINGO4656
2003-09-02 21:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

PARLACEN COURTS THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Tags:  PREL PGOV EINT ETRD DR 
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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

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