Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTODOMINGO2962
2006-09-14 18:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER:
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHDG #2962 2571811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141811Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6116 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PRIORITY 1956 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0647 RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY 0889 RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON PRIORITY 2632 RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO PRIORITY 1029 RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 4344 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN PRIORITY 1709 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 1555 RUCOWCV/CUSTOMS CARIBBEAN ATTACHE MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEAHLC/HQS DHS WASHDC PRIORITY RUMISTA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002962
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, INR/IAA; USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD;
TREASURY FOR OASIA-JLEVINE; DEPT PASS USDA FOR FAS; USDOC
FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION; USDOC FOR
3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH; DHS FOR CIS-CARLOS ITURREGUI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016
TAGS: DR PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER:
CAFTA-DR, HAITI
Classified By: Ambassador Hans H. Hertell, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002962
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, INR/IAA; USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD;
TREASURY FOR OASIA-JLEVINE; DEPT PASS USDA FOR FAS; USDOC
FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION; USDOC FOR
3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH; DHS FOR CIS-CARLOS ITURREGUI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016
TAGS: DR PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER:
CAFTA-DR, HAITI
Classified By: Ambassador Hans H. Hertell, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) Ambassador Hertell met with Foreign Minister Carlos
Morales Troncoso on September 12 to introduce Post's new DCM,
Roland Bullen. Dominican Under Secretary Jose Manuel
Trullols and POLOFF also attended.
2. (C) Following pleasantries, the Ambassador raised the
CAFTA-DR implementation process, noting that President
Fernandez had expressed to us surprise that several key
issues remained to be solved. The Ambassador told Morales
that time is running out and that, whatever it takes, we need
to get a deal done. Failure on the part of the Dominican
negotiators to be forthright about where implementation talks
stand is holding up progress. For example, in a September 11
meeting, Secretariat of Industry and Commerce CAFTA
Implementation Director Vilma Arbaje told the Ambassador that
a key difference the Dominicans had been debating with USTR
over an industrial property related definition -- a point
vital to implementation -- had been resolved. She said that
USTR had agreed with the Dominicans, definition of the term
"new product" -- a statement which was later confirmed by
USTR to be clearly false.
3. (C) The Ambassador told the Foreign Minister said that
Arbajes's behavior damaged the atmosphere of the
implementation talks and lowered U.S. confidence in the good
faith of the Dominican side. We believe, he continued, that
President Fernandez has good intentions with regard to
implementation without delay of CAFTA-DR; however, the
problem appears to be that his position is not percolating
down to the Dominican bureaucracy.
4. (C) The Ambassador also inquired about the recent
postponement of a visit to Santo Domingo by Haitian Foreign
Minister Clerisme. Morales said that the Haitian Foreign
Minister had cancelled the visit at the last moment without
explanation. Clerisme is "pro-Aristide," "up to no good,"
and "anti-Dominican." "He'll have a hard time catching up
with me" (i.e. rescheduling the visit).
5. (C) Comment: Post is preparing a strong, appropriate
response to Arbaje's unacceptable statements on September 11.
On Haiti, while Morales was clearly annoyed by Clerisme's
actions, he took care to note that President Preval is a
"good friend" of the Dominican Republic. Morales even
speculated that Preval may have cancelled the visit out of
fear that Clerisme would do harm to the bilateral
relationship.
6. (U) This report and extensive other material can be
consulted on our SIPIRNET site,
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/ .
HERTELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, INR/IAA; USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD;
TREASURY FOR OASIA-JLEVINE; DEPT PASS USDA FOR FAS; USDOC
FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION; USDOC FOR
3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH; DHS FOR CIS-CARLOS ITURREGUI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016
TAGS: DR PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER:
CAFTA-DR, HAITI
Classified By: Ambassador Hans H. Hertell, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) Ambassador Hertell met with Foreign Minister Carlos
Morales Troncoso on September 12 to introduce Post's new DCM,
Roland Bullen. Dominican Under Secretary Jose Manuel
Trullols and POLOFF also attended.
2. (C) Following pleasantries, the Ambassador raised the
CAFTA-DR implementation process, noting that President
Fernandez had expressed to us surprise that several key
issues remained to be solved. The Ambassador told Morales
that time is running out and that, whatever it takes, we need
to get a deal done. Failure on the part of the Dominican
negotiators to be forthright about where implementation talks
stand is holding up progress. For example, in a September 11
meeting, Secretariat of Industry and Commerce CAFTA
Implementation Director Vilma Arbaje told the Ambassador that
a key difference the Dominicans had been debating with USTR
over an industrial property related definition -- a point
vital to implementation -- had been resolved. She said that
USTR had agreed with the Dominicans, definition of the term
"new product" -- a statement which was later confirmed by
USTR to be clearly false.
3. (C) The Ambassador told the Foreign Minister said that
Arbajes's behavior damaged the atmosphere of the
implementation talks and lowered U.S. confidence in the good
faith of the Dominican side. We believe, he continued, that
President Fernandez has good intentions with regard to
implementation without delay of CAFTA-DR; however, the
problem appears to be that his position is not percolating
down to the Dominican bureaucracy.
4. (C) The Ambassador also inquired about the recent
postponement of a visit to Santo Domingo by Haitian Foreign
Minister Clerisme. Morales said that the Haitian Foreign
Minister had cancelled the visit at the last moment without
explanation. Clerisme is "pro-Aristide," "up to no good,"
and "anti-Dominican." "He'll have a hard time catching up
with me" (i.e. rescheduling the visit).
5. (C) Comment: Post is preparing a strong, appropriate
response to Arbaje's unacceptable statements on September 11.
On Haiti, while Morales was clearly annoyed by Clerisme's
actions, he took care to note that President Preval is a
"good friend" of the Dominican Republic. Morales even
speculated that Preval may have cancelled the visit out of
fear that Clerisme would do harm to the bilateral
relationship.
6. (U) This report and extensive other material can be
consulted on our SIPIRNET site,
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/ .
HERTELL