DOMINICAN INTERIOR MINISTER SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTO DOMINGO 000471

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PA, PA/IGA, L/LEI, EB/CBA,
EB/TPP/BTA, DS/IP/WHA;
NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON; TREASURY FOR OASIA-LCARTER;
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD;
USDOC FOR 4322/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN/SCOTT SMITH
USDOC FOR 3004/ITA/USFCS/ADVOCACY
CENTER/PWILLIAMS,EHENDERSON;
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/OIO/WH/DDEVITO,BARTHUR;
DHS FOR CIS-CARLOS ITURREGUI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2010
TAGS: CJAN KJUS SNAR KCOR PTER EFIN PGOV PREL BEXP ASEC DR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN INTERIOR MINISTER SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH
U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT, CONSIDERS MOTOROLA BID

Classified By: AMB Hans Hertell for Reason 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Dominican Interior Secretary Franklin
Almeyda, meeting with the Ambassador, Embassy staff, and City
of New York Police Department (NYPD) officials January 27,
expressed his intention to work with the Embassy and U.S.
police advisers to fight corruption and boost efficiency in
the Dominican police. Visiting NYPD Internal Affairs Chief
Charles Campisi described seminars on discipline and
integrity that the visitors were conducting for Dominican
police managers and other training planned for February,
March, and April. The NYPD will soon post a "permanent
liaison" officer here. In a pull-aside with Almeyda, the
Ambassador advocated Motorola's bid to export an emergency
communications system to the Dominicans. Another top
official later told the DCM that, consistent with the new IMF
agreement, the Dominican Government would not take on new
external debt unless the related debt service had been
included in the annual budget. End summary.


2. (U) State Secretary of Interior and Police of the
Dominican Republic Dr. Franklin Almeyda met January 27 with
City of New York Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Internal
Affairs Charles Campisi, Deputy Inspector Patrick Gallagher
of the NYPD Corruption Prevention Division, the Ambassador,
and four other Embassy officers. Almeyda was accompanied by
Administrative Sub-Secretary of Interior and Police Will
Lajara. The NYPD officials were in Santo Domingo January
25-28 to conduct seminars on integrity, discipline, and
fighting corruption for senior and mid-level managers of the
Dominican National Police (PN),Metropolitan Transport
Authority (AMET - traffic police),National Anti-Drugs
Directorate (DNCD),Tourist Police (POLITUR),and Directorate
General of Migration. The visitors held a press conference
and paid a courtesy call on President Fernandez.

Training by U.S. Police Forces
--------------


3. (C) Almeyda characterized the 30,000-member National
Police (PN) as a "deformed institution" rife with corruption
and inefficiency. He criticized Former President Mejia
(2000-2004) for not providing an "optimal environment" for
reform and said President Fernandez has a policy to
"institutionalize the police." In particular, Fernandez has
instructed the police leadership to cultivate close relations
with the NYPD and also seek assistance from police
departments in New Jersey and Puerto Rico.


4. (U) Almeyda expects to host a visit in February by an NYPD
intelligence officer and in March by an NYPD counternarcotics
expert. Police in New Jersey have offered assistance in use
of technology in criminal investigations. Almeyda intends to
highlight these endeavors in the media to build public
support. (Note: According to Avila, the February visit will
coincide with a meeting here on police intelligence,
involving Chilean, Spanish, Dominican, New York, and New
Jersey police officers. We requested an invitation for
Embassy officers. Chief Campisi later told the press that
another NYPD visit in April would address how to deal with
youth gangs. End note.)


5. (SBU) Chief Campisi said that NY Police Commissioner
Raymond Kelly plans to send a "permanent liaison" officer to
Santo Domingo to exchange information and coordinate criminal
investigations. The NYPD already has such liaison persons in
European, Middle Eastern, and other countries, Campisi noted.
The NYPD is in process of selecting a candidate for the
position in the Dominican Republic. Campisi emphasized that
the liaison officer would "work very closely" with the
Embassy. He later told the press that the liaison would be
attached to the State Secretariat of Interior and Police.


U.S. Government Assistance to Police
--------------


6. (SBU) The Ambassador pledged the Embassy's complete
cooperation. He gave a precis of U.S. Government assistance
to the police since 2002, including strengthening the
curriculum at the police academies, offering training and
consultation by international experts, providing computers,
supporting the drafting of new laws, training judicial
personnel, and cooperating with the PN on investigations of
international crime, trafficking in persons, contraband, and
terrorism. Almeyda acknowledged the importance of these
projects and said he would work to ensure appropriate
followup and continuity. He expressed a desire for closer
relations between his secretariat and the Embassy and
designated Sub-Secretary Lajara as the regular point of
contact.

Upgrading Emergency Communications
--------------


7. (C) In a pull-aside with Interior Secretary Almeyda, the
Ambassador advocated favorable consideration of a bid by U.S.
firm Motorola to supply the PN an integrated emergency
communications network with a command and control center.
The system would cost US $28 million, including U.S. exports
worth at least $18 million. The Ambassador briefed Almeyda
on the advanced technology and other long-term advantages of
the Motorola system, in comparison with a competing, slightly
less expensive offer by a non-U.S. supplier. He also pointed
out the risk that non-U.S. firms may resort to corrupt
practices in attempts to undercut American bidders, who must
comply with U.S. law prohibiting such abuses. Almeyda
undertook to consult with PN Chief Manuel de Jesus Perez
Sanchez on the matter and inform us of any decision. (Note:
On January 26 Perez Sanchez told Embassy officers that he
supported Motorola's proposal. End note.)


8. (C) Technical Secretary of the Presidency Temistocles
Montas told the DCM on January 28 that his office would have
to review such a proposal, that financial constraints would
require any new projects not in the current budget to be
postponed until 2006, and that the government would not take
on any new debt this year. DCM summarized the advantages of
the Motorola bid and proposed that, whenever the project is
considered, the government thoroughly evaluate the superior
Motorola technology rather than base a decision solely on
price or financing terms.

Followup Meeting at Embassy
--------------


9. (SBU) On January 28, NYPD Chief Campisi, Deputy Inspector
Gallagher, Dominican Sub-Secretary Lajara, and Ambassador
Avila of the Dominican UN delegation were briefed at the
Embassy by RSO, Legal Attache, Narcotics Affairs, DEA, and
DHS/Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and ECOPOL. USG
officers sought close coordination with the NYPD and other
U.S. local or state police, requested that the Embassy
receive advance notice of official visits, and reminded the
visitors that any effort by U.S. police to track down wanted
fugitives in the Dominican Republic must be coordinated with
the Assistant U.S. Attorney and the Embassy. The NYPD
officials concurred.

Comment
--------------



10. (C) The Ambassador's meeting re-established the
relationship between the Embassy and the Interior
Secretariat, which had deteriorated under Almeyda's

SIPDIS
predecessor. Almeyda's appointment last August strengthened
ethical standards, and he seems serious about modernizing the
police. Embassy will use the renewed contacts to advance
U.S. Government objectives and to see that operational
cooperation with U.S. big city police forces is consonant
with U.S. goals.
HERTELL