Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANTODOMINGO1241
2008-07-31 13:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:
NODEL ENGEL'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT FERNANDEZ:
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHDG #1241 2131325 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311325Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1240 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PRIORITY 2181 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0919 RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY 1093 RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON PRIORITY 2884 RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO PRIORITY 1218 RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 4847 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN PRIORITY 1919 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0198 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUMISTA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 001241
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR AND H
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON KV HA DR
SUBJECT: NODEL ENGEL'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT FERNANDEZ:
BASEBALL, KOSOVO, HAITIAN COMMUNITY
Classified By: P. Robert Fannin, Ambassador, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
Mets' Baseball Academy
----------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 001241
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR AND H
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON KV HA DR
SUBJECT: NODEL ENGEL'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT FERNANDEZ:
BASEBALL, KOSOVO, HAITIAN COMMUNITY
Classified By: P. Robert Fannin, Ambassador, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
Mets' Baseball Academy
--------------
1. (U) Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY),Chairman of the
Western Hemisphere Affairs Subcommittee of the HCFA, made a
brief private visit to the Dominican Republic July 28-29.
The Congressman traveled to attend the July 29 ceremonial
opening of the New York Mets baseball academy in Boca Chica
(20 miles east of Santo Domingo). The event was attended by
President Fernandez, Ambassador Fannin, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon
and General Manager Omar Minaya, and other luminaries.
2. (U) The academy, which constitutes a US$8 million
investment by an American firm in the Dominican Republic,
will accommodate 76 players. In a press release, Wilpon said
that, "The opening of the Mets' Dominican Baseball Academy is
the next step in our baseball operation's player development
efforts. We expect our new academy to become a destination
facility for talented athletes to learn -- on and off the
field -- through competition and education." Representatives
of the Mets noted that 16 players have now received high
school degrees through the academy's education program.
During the July 29 event, two of the players were awarded
their degrees on stage.
3. (U) Rep. Engel also participated in the academy opening's
community outreach component, where baseball gloves were
donated to underprivileged children in the city of Gautier.
The gloves were distributed in conjunction with the Boys and
Girls Club of Greenwich, CT.
Kosovo and Haiti
--------------
4. (SBU) Rep. Engel and President Fernandez held a brief
pull-aside meeting during the Mets' event, accompanied by the
Ambassador and DCM. Rep. Engel noted that he has many
Dominican-Americans in his congressional district and would
like to be helpful. He then advocated for the Dominican
Republic to recognize Kosovo. Fernandez replied that many
countries in Latin America have been reluctant to recognize.
He said that his country had not yet recognized any of the
nations that used to make up Yugoslavia, but that they would
be doing so one-by-one. Perhaps Kosovo could be recognized
at the end of this process, so that it would not appear that
his Government is singling out Pristina.
5. (C) Fernandez added that one of the concerns that had been
expressed to him about recognizing Kosovo (he did not say by
whom) was that the Dominicans could become vulnerable
regarding the Haitian minority residing here. It is
possible, Fernandez said, that ethnic Haitians could attempt
to declare independence for part of Dominican territory.
Rep. Engel and the DR
--------------
6. (U) Fernandez asked Rep. Engel if the Congressman planned
to seek changes to his committee assignments after the
November election. Rep. Engel replied that he did not,
noting that he has a deep interest in the Dominican Republic.
Rep. Engel noted that his December 2006 visit to the
Dominican Republic was his first CODEL following the 2006
election, when he was the incoming Chairman of the Western
Hemisphere Affairs Subcommittee. He also said that he plans
another visit soon.
7. (U) Congressman Engel did not have an opportunity to clear
this cable prior to departing the country.
(U) Please visit us at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/
FANNIN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR AND H
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON KV HA DR
SUBJECT: NODEL ENGEL'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT FERNANDEZ:
BASEBALL, KOSOVO, HAITIAN COMMUNITY
Classified By: P. Robert Fannin, Ambassador, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
Mets' Baseball Academy
--------------
1. (U) Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY),Chairman of the
Western Hemisphere Affairs Subcommittee of the HCFA, made a
brief private visit to the Dominican Republic July 28-29.
The Congressman traveled to attend the July 29 ceremonial
opening of the New York Mets baseball academy in Boca Chica
(20 miles east of Santo Domingo). The event was attended by
President Fernandez, Ambassador Fannin, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon
and General Manager Omar Minaya, and other luminaries.
2. (U) The academy, which constitutes a US$8 million
investment by an American firm in the Dominican Republic,
will accommodate 76 players. In a press release, Wilpon said
that, "The opening of the Mets' Dominican Baseball Academy is
the next step in our baseball operation's player development
efforts. We expect our new academy to become a destination
facility for talented athletes to learn -- on and off the
field -- through competition and education." Representatives
of the Mets noted that 16 players have now received high
school degrees through the academy's education program.
During the July 29 event, two of the players were awarded
their degrees on stage.
3. (U) Rep. Engel also participated in the academy opening's
community outreach component, where baseball gloves were
donated to underprivileged children in the city of Gautier.
The gloves were distributed in conjunction with the Boys and
Girls Club of Greenwich, CT.
Kosovo and Haiti
--------------
4. (SBU) Rep. Engel and President Fernandez held a brief
pull-aside meeting during the Mets' event, accompanied by the
Ambassador and DCM. Rep. Engel noted that he has many
Dominican-Americans in his congressional district and would
like to be helpful. He then advocated for the Dominican
Republic to recognize Kosovo. Fernandez replied that many
countries in Latin America have been reluctant to recognize.
He said that his country had not yet recognized any of the
nations that used to make up Yugoslavia, but that they would
be doing so one-by-one. Perhaps Kosovo could be recognized
at the end of this process, so that it would not appear that
his Government is singling out Pristina.
5. (C) Fernandez added that one of the concerns that had been
expressed to him about recognizing Kosovo (he did not say by
whom) was that the Dominicans could become vulnerable
regarding the Haitian minority residing here. It is
possible, Fernandez said, that ethnic Haitians could attempt
to declare independence for part of Dominican territory.
Rep. Engel and the DR
--------------
6. (U) Fernandez asked Rep. Engel if the Congressman planned
to seek changes to his committee assignments after the
November election. Rep. Engel replied that he did not,
noting that he has a deep interest in the Dominican Republic.
Rep. Engel noted that his December 2006 visit to the
Dominican Republic was his first CODEL following the 2006
election, when he was the incoming Chairman of the Western
Hemisphere Affairs Subcommittee. He also said that he plans
another visit soon.
7. (U) Congressman Engel did not have an opportunity to clear
this cable prior to departing the country.
(U) Please visit us at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/
FANNIN