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