DOMINICAN SUPPORT AT WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 003089 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, IO/T; DHS FOR CUSTOMS INTERNATIONAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD DR AORC SUBJECT: DOMINICAN SUPPORT AT WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION MEETING REF: STATE 94927 ¶1. Dominican Customs Director General Miguel Cocco received EcoPol counselor on June 7 for a wide-ranging discussion of customs cooperation and said that he would be issuing explicit directions to Dominican ambassador in Brussels Federico Cuello to support U.S. initiatives at the June meeting of the World Customs Organization. Though Cocco cannot attend because of health reasons, he will be sending his Deputy, Enrique Rodriguez, whom he respects highly. ¶2. Cocco says that the Dominicans will support a U.S. candidate notifed directly to them by U.S. Customs. He was receptive to EcoPol counselor's explanation of U.S. views on the need for support for the proposed WCO Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade. ¶3. Cocco looks forward to receiving a delegation from U.S. customs for signature of a bilateral customs cooperation agreement once the draft instrument has been approved by the U.S. authorities. He was particularly complimentary about cooperation with the Embassy NAS. Hertell