DOMINICAN REPLY ON HCOC AGAINST BALLISTIC MISSILE

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000636 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE ISN/MTR FOR JOHN PAUL HERRMANN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC MTCRE KSCA DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPLY ON HCOC AGAINST BALLISTIC MISSILE PROLIFERATION REF: STATE 14407 ¶1. (SBU) POLOFF delivered a diplomatic note containing Reftel talking points encouraging the Dominican Republic to subscribe to the Hague Code of Conduct (HCOC). POLOFF emphasized the long period of time in which we have been discussing this issue with the Dominicans (more than four years),underscored the fact that all Central American countries and Haiti have subscribed, and inquired how we might bring this issue to closure. ¶2. (SBU) Minister-Counselor Carmen Contreras, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office of Judicial Affairs, acknowledged that the Dominican subscription to the HCOC has been pending for some time. Contreras said that the MFA would forward the diplomatic note to the Armed Forces and again request their views. (Note: POLOFF interpreted Contreras' response as implying that the lack of formal comments from the Armed Forces is the reason that discussion on Dominican subscription is stalled.) POLOFF suggested that the Embassy's Defense Attache Office separately approach the Dominican Armed Forces, and pledged to keep the MFA informed of any such communication. Contreras expressed no opposition to directly contacting the Armed Forces. ¶3. (U) We will report subsequent developments. This report and extensive other material can be consulted on our SIPRNET site, http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/ HERTELL