DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: VISIT OF USTR REPRESENTATIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 004038

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, EB/TPP/BTA/EWH; OES FOR
SPERLING; DEPT PASS USTR FOR KYLER, BURR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: DR ETRD SENV USTR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: VISIT OF USTR REPRESENTATIVE
FOR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, MARA BURR

REF: E.O 12958: N/A


1. Summary: Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for
Environment and Natural Resources Mara M. Burr, described
U.S. policy and procedures to Central American and Dominican
trade and environment officials meeting at a conference on
Environmental Sustainable Development, August 11-13. In
meetings with Dominican officials Burr found the Dominicans
considering themselves somewhat excluded by the Centrals and
found the Dominican administration suffering from internal
coordination problems. In the international discussions Burr
noted the lack of "anti-DR-CAFTA" or "anti-US" comments. The
political rhetoric during the question and answer session was
kept to a minimum. End Summary.


2. Deputy Assistant USTR for Environment and Natural
Resources Mara Burr engaged Central American and Dominican
environment and trade officials August 11-13 in the context
of an international conference on environmental sustainable
development sponsored by the Commission for International
Integration of Central America??? (CIEMADeS). On August 11
at a breakfast meeting Burr and EST officer Olga Luciano,
Director of Planning in the Dominican Ministry of Natural
Resources and the Environment commented that the Ministry has
been trying to incorporate environmental issues into all of
government planning. This has not been an easy task because
the Environment Ministry is only five years old. Other
ministries do not necessarily understand the environmental
implications of their decisions and the need for
coordination. She said environmental planning should feature
in long-term development planning. She finds that ministry
officials need training. She favored the establishment of a
special inter-ministerial committee on trade and the
environment. This objective was mentioned later by
Ministry's Director for Soils and Water, Ernesto Reyna.
Ministry Director of Environmental Quality Felipe Ditren
participated in this meeting.


3. The first annual CIEMADeS Conference was held August 10
-11. Burr's presentation was well attended. She explained
the provisions of the DR-CAFTA Environmental Chapter and the
Environmental Cooperation priorities. Burr stressed that
each Party commits to effective enforcement of domestic
environmental law and to efforts to improve the environment.
She stated it is inappropriate to reduce environmental laws
as an encouragement for trade and investment. She noted that
a CAFTA country may be called to dispute settlement if it
should fail to effectively enforce its environmental law in a
sustained or recurring manner affecting trade between the
parties.


4. A featured presentation was that on deforestation, given
by Paul Latortue of the University of Haiti. Latortue
cautioned the audience against blaming Haiti's poor for the
country's deforestation, given that deforestation has
resulted from historical issues including colonization,
postcolonial rule, collapse of the coffee trade, poverty, and
lack of government infrastructure. Latortue stated that only
3 percent of Haiti remains forested. News coverage of the
conference concentrated on Latortue,s message.


5. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Max
Puig attended the conference and commented in a
question-and-answer session at the end that the Venezuela
government just provided a USD 6 million environmental loan
at terms so good that it was almost a gift. Puig expects to
use the loan for sustainable development projects, such as
the proposed eco-friendly road to be developed in the "Los
Haitises" national park on the Samana Peninsula.


6. Under Secretary of Industry and Commerce Marcelo Puello
and staffers Hugo Rivera Santana and Yahaira Sosa Machado
received Burr and emboffs on August 11. Rivera complained
that he had not been informed about the CIEMADeS conference.
This lack of communication and coordination was symptomatic
of the Dominican government, he said. Rivera stated that the
Dominican Republic had been disadvantaged because it had not
been included along with the Centrals in the original
framework discussions. Rivera stated that the Environment
Ministry is not well coordinated with respect to DR-CAFTA (or
many other issues for that matter) because of its structure
and the autonomous nature of each sub-secretariat. He
commented that Puig should nominate one person to coordinate
all of his sub-secretaries. Rivera found that this
fragmentation also hurts the Dominican Republic within
DR-CAFTA because it is not clear who is the appropriate point
of contact or who possesses decision-making authority. All
three officials said that they have not seen the draft
DR-CAFTA Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) work plan
that the Environment Ministry is working on. Rivera said
Under Secretary Puello has invited all CAFTA trade ministers
to the Dominican Republic and none has responded. It
appeared that they were not interested. Burr undertook to
reinforce with the Centrals the importance of including all
the DR-CAFTA countries in discussions and decision-making.


7. At the end of the day Burr met Ernesto Reyna Alcntara,
Environmental Ministry Director for Soils and Water. Reyna
was relatively quiet and his advisor Victor Venas did most of
the talking. The same issues were restated: the Dominicans
feel less than a full member of the DR-CAFTA and they hope
that Burr can assist them. Venas asserted that Trade and
Industry had indeed received a copy of the ECA working plan
and he is certain that Sosa had a copy. Ernesto Reyna is the
point of contact both for both environmental implementation
and the ECA for DR-CAFTA. Venas commented on difficulties
due to time zone differences and said that at times the
Dominican Republic is excluded from Central American
meetings. Burr outlined procedures for administration
through USAID and the Department of State of assistance funds.


8. On August 12, Burr discussed enforcement matters with
Police Col. Valerio Garcia Reyes who works in National Police
on the environment portfolio. Garcia expressed a need for
assistance, saying that his division is well organized and
has a clear vision of its requirements.
MEIGS