HAITIAN-DOMINICAN RELATIONS: MORE THAN TALK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000136 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM HA DR SUBJECT: HAITIAN-DOMINICAN RELATIONS: MORE THAN TALK REF: PORT AU PRINCE 130 PORT AU PR 00000136 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. This message is sensitive but unclassified -- protect accordingly. ¶2. (U) Summary: The Dominican Republic's Ambassador to Haiti Jose Serulle Ramia told Poloff January 20 that Haitian-Dominican relations are stronger than ever, following President Rene Preval's inauguration June 2006. Haitian and Dominican parliamentarians met in Santo Domingo and signed an agreement on January 12 concerning border issues. Notably, the agreement did not mention migration between the two countries. In the last month, Preval has had several conversations with Dominican officials to discuss the increase in drug-trafficking between the two countries, and mentioned a regional drug trafficking summit announced by the Dominicans to take place in Santo Domingo this March. Ambassador Serulle also confirmed a visit of Dominican private sector representatives to discuss foreign investment. Illegal Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic remains one of the most contentious issues between the two nations, but recent jailings of Dominican smugglers, and continuing re-patriation of Haitians, signals a strong desire on the part of the Dominican government to address the issue through legal/diplomatic channels. End Summary. Haitian and Dominican Parliaments Sign Border Agreement - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (U) Of the eighteen points included in the agreement signed by Haitian and Dominican parliamentarians, none mentioned the issue of migration from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. According to one Haitian news report, Dominican congressman Roman de la Rosa expressed disappointment that the parliamentarians are "limited to the simple questions." The points of the parliamentary agreement included formal establishment of bi-national markets, reforestation and environmental protection, an electrical line joining Haiti's border towns to electricity supplied by the Dominican Republic, vocational schools and language programs (Creole in the Dominican Republic and Spanish in Haiti),educational exchanges, health programs targeting HIV/AIDS, potable water, natural disaster preparation and relief, and a new road �0A;linking towns in the north. The local news pointed out that during the joint conference of social and religious leaders hosted in Oslo last September, participants signed agreements on migration, natural disasters, violence, and education. ¶4. (U) According to Haitian Senate Vice President Edmonde Supplice Beauzile (FUSION - Center Department) on January 17, the meeting with her Dominican counterparts was effective and substantial. She said the two sides agreed to try to meet every three months to advance the points outlined in the border agreement. However, Beauzile admitted that Haitian-Dominican parliamentarian relations were not great. The same "anti-Haitian complex" existed at the meeting as in all interactions between Haitians and Dominicans. ¶5. (U) Speaking at the closure of the parliamentary exchange, Daniel O'Neal for the Pan-American Foundation for Development said that Haitian authorities overlook border issues, whereas the Dominicans prioritize the border region. Due to the number of priority regions in Haiti, such as Cite Soleil, Gonaives and parts of Cap Haitian, O'Neal specified, the GoH does not accord sufficient resources to development along its border with the Dominican Republic. Drugs Dominate Bilateral Relations - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) President Preval received Dominican congressional leader Julio Cesar Valentin on January 19 in Port-au-Prince. According to Ambassador Serulle, who was present at the meeting, it was an effective exchange to raise cross-border awareness on the increase in drug trafficking. After discussing drug trafficking with President Leonel Fernandez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe during his visit to Nicaragua, on January 11 Preval announced his and his counterparts' intention to hold a summit in Santo Domingo in PORT AU PR 00000136 002.2 OF 002 mid-March to discuss counter drug trafficking measures and demand that the international community take responsibility for regional drug trafficking. The local press reports that the summit will include representatives from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),the Organization of American States (OAS),the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela. (Note: Preval told Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) during his visit on January 13 that he hoped the "consumer countries" would also attend (reftel). End note.) Dominicans in Haiti to Discuss Investment - - - - - - - - - - ¶7. (U) Ambassador Serulle confirmed that a group of Dominican business people were in town to meet with the private sector representatives in Haiti. Though he did not have specifics, the Dominican ambassador said topics included commercial investment, as well as CAFTA-DR and HOPE implementation. Haiti is the Dominican Republic's second largest trading partner, as the Dominican Republic is to Haiti, Ambassador Serulle said. Dominican Smugglers Convicted of Murder - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (U) In what the press called a "landmark for Haitian-Dominican relations," a Dominican provincial court convicted four Dominicans, including two military personnel, of the death of 25 Haitian migrants who had suffocated in the closed spaces of a goods truck one year ago. The driver and his assistant received sentences of 20 years in prison, and the military personnel received sentences of 10 years. According to Haitian news reports, Dominican authorities have repatriated more than 4000 undocumented Haitians and persons of Haitian descent since the beginning of January. (Note: Dominican authorities also deport children born to illegal Haitians, whom they refuse to document. End note.) ¶9. (SBU) Comment: The GoH's progress in improving relations with the Dominican Republic reflects Preval's personal commitment and engagement. Preval made a point of making Santo Domingo the first foreign capital he visited after his inauguration and he often speaks of his friendship with President Fernandez, which carries over from their first terms. (By contrast, he pointedly does not claim any personal affinity for Hugo Chavez, with whom he also dealt during his first term.) With the Foreign Ministry relegated to second tier importance, and Preval often reluctant to fully engage himself, much of the rest of Haiti's foreign policy agenda suffers from lack of presidential direction. The long-promised binational commission for the two countries has yet to meet, and the Dominican Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Tronocoso told the press in December that a visit by the Haitian Foreign Minister Jean Renald Clerisme set for late 2006 had been postponed without explanation. SANDERSON