Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04SANTODOMINGO3979
2004-07-08 10:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

ARTICLE 98 RATIFICATION PROGRESS IN DOMINICAN

Tags:  PREL DR 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 003979 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR AND PM; SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL DR
SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98 RATIFICATION PROGRESS IN DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC

REF: STATE 145167

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 003979

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR AND PM; SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL DR
SUBJECT: ARTICLE 98 RATIFICATION PROGRESS IN DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC

REF: STATE 145167


1. The Dominican Senate gave its approval to ratification of
the Article 98 bilateral agreement on June 15 and forwarded
the proposal to the lower house of Congress (Chamber of
Deputies) for action. The same day, the DCM urged Chamber
Speaker Alfredo Pacheco (PRD) to ensure prompt approval and
explained the reasons.


2. Poloff on June 30 met with Chamber foreign relations
committee chair Dr Cristian Paredes and urged speedy
ratification, drawing on talking points reftel. Paredes said
he "guaranteed" that the Article 98 agreement, signed by the
Dominican Republic on September 13, 2002, would be ratified
by the lower house before the change of presidential
administration August 16.


3. Paredes had not yet seen the Article 98 paperwork, so we
provided copies of the agreement in English and Spanish,
President Mejia's transmission letter to the Congress
recommending ratification, and a document certifying the
Senate's recent approval. Paredes said he would track down
the document that had been forwarded from the Senate to the
Chamber.


4. Poloff offered to appear at committee hearings (as he had
done prior to the Senate's approval) and to request
participation by the MFA's legal adviser to make the case for
approval. Paredes foresaw no objections to the agreement and
promised to do whatever he could to expedite the ratification.


5. Poloff also spoke briefly with Speaker Pacheco and
reminded him that the bill was now in the Chamber. Pacheco
expressed willingness to move ahead.
KUBISKE