DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 006907

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2013
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT

REF: STATE 290725

(U) Classified by CDA Lisa Kubiske for reason 1.5 (b/d).


1. (C) MFA Legal Adviser Jorge Santiago is waiting for
comments on the Article 98 agreement from other government
branches.


2. (C) Ambassador, in conversations with President Mejia on
November 22 and 24, stressed the urgency of the Dominican
Republic's ratifying its signed ICC Article 98 bilateral
agreement with the United States. DCM Kubiske emphasized the
same message during a courtesy call by Cesar Matias,
chairperson of the Dominican Senate's External Relations
Committee, on November 20. DCM also raised the issue during
the Ambassador's lunch for legislative leaders, including the
presidents of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, for
Treasury U/S Taylor on November 22. Senate President Vasquez
indicated willingness to move the measure forward once it is
received from the Ministry.


3. (C) Deputy Secretary of Foreign Relations Miguel Pichardo
responded to presentation on November 28 by EcoPol counselor
with an offer to have the MFA legal office advise the Embassy
of the appropriate points of contact for other GODR agencies
in this consultative process. Pichardo will provide this
information next week and emboffs will stress to those
interlocutors the policy importance of the Article 98
agreement.
KUBISKE