DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SIGNS SOFA WITH KUWAIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 007306 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2013 TAGS: DR MARR PREL SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SIGNS SOFA WITH KUWAIT REF: KUWAIT 5368 Classified By: ECOPOL COUNSELOR MICHAEL MEIGS FOR REASON 1.4 (B/D). (C) THE SECRETARIAT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS LEGAL ADVISER JORGE SANTIAGO HAS INFORMED US THAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SIGNED AND ON DECEMBER 12 TRANSMITTED VIA DIPLOMATIC NOTE A BILATERAL STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA) WITH KUWAIT. THE SOFA, SIGNED BY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ARMED FORCES JOSE MIGUEL SOTO JIMENEZ (PER KUWAITI REQUEST),WAS SENT BY FAX AND THE ORIGINAL DISPATCHED BY EXPRESS MAIL TO THE DOMINICAN EMBASSY IN CARACAS, WHICH PROVIDED THE FAX VERSION TO THE KUWAITI EMBASSY THERE. ORIGINAL, WHEN RECEIVED IN CARACAS, WILL ALSO BE PASSED TO THE KUWAITIS. THE GODR WILL AWAIT A SIGNED REPLY FROM KUWAIT. HERTELL