DOMINICANS PAUSE DISCUSSION OF GTMO MEDEVAC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002176 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/WCI AMB WILLIAMSON, PRM/ECA, WHA, WHA/CAR JAFFEE AND WARD SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2033 TAGS: PTER PHUM PINS PREL MARR DO SUBJECT: DOMINICANS PAUSE DISCUSSION OF GTMO MEDEVAC STANDBY REQUEST REF: STATE 130626 Classified By: Charge Roland Bullen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Per REFTEL, Embassy demarched Under Secretary for Consular and Migratory Affairs Rosario Graciano de los Santos on September 19 regarding the possibility of establishing an emergency medevac standby arrangement. Graciano personally supported further, coordinated discussion of this initiative between the USG and the Dominican Armed Forces, the Ministry of Public Health, the Directorate of Migration, and the Foreign Minister, but remained formally noncommittal. A formal Dominican response must await review by more senior Dominican officials, all of whom are currently traveling with President Fernandez in the United States. Accordingly, Embassy does not expect a substantive response on this issue for a least two additional weeks. Embassy will report soonest any substantive response should it occur. ¶2. (C) Embassy wishes to note that, while DOD health policy experts have identified the Dominican Republic as a country that is capable of providing a significant degree of emergency medical care, Embassy-based health practitioners have identified a paucity of trained medical personnel and advanced life-saving equipment as factors contributing to Embassy's hardship designation. BULLEN