EMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 90-DAY GOALS

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001343 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR WHA/CAR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT DR SUBJECT: EMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 90-DAY GOALS REF: EMAILS MEIGS/MCISAAC ¶1. (SBU) Following are Embassy Santo Domingo's goals for the first quarter of CY 2004 and a status report: Rule of Law Obtain removal of at least one official believed to be complicit in trafficking or corruption -- Miguel Vasquez, Atty Gen Cespedes, Ambassador to Argentina, Guido Gomez Status as of 2/29: Vasquez still in place but Mejia told Amb he will be removed soon; AG Cespedes still in place but in response to Amb demarche Mejia told Amb he would leave soon; Mejia volunteered info that he was calling home Amb to Argentina; Gomez has left office to participate in campaign, reported to have tendered his resignation on March 1. Election Observers Get Elections Board (JCE) to request observers, work with OAS to define program, secure funding from Department as envisioned by A/S Noriega, secure cooperation of other mini-Dublin group embassies Status as of 2/29: JCE formally requested observers on 1/30; work with OAS on-going and various options outlined according to possibilites of funding; Dept funding awaits WHA and RM action; ECOPOL has contacted other embassies IMF program and international institutional lending Convince GODR to comply in timely fashion with renegotiated IMF program and to keep it on track with commitments Status as of 2/29: IMF Board approved standby on Feb 11; DCM made demarche to TechSec to urge respect for commitment for comparable treatment for private sector lenders; Paris Club negotiation postponed last week from March 2 to April; ECOPOL in close contact with IMF, IDB and WB resreps KUBISKE