PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Dominican Republic would like to have free trade with the United States, President Leonel Fernandez Reyna told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference this morning. Responding to a journalist's question, he said his country wanted its products to be exported, but there was an imbalance in the markets, which meant that his country had not been able to open its markets to all the services and goods produced in developed countries because it could harm local Dominican producers. “We understand that there is a new philosophy of reciprocity in free trade and we are suggesting that until the year 2005, when there is full integration of the hemisphere, the Caribbean economies should be allowed to have the same preferences that Mexico has within the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)”, he said.

He added that the United States had an interest in allowing Dominican goods to enter its market. If the free trade zones were closed, the unemployment that would be generated would lead to illegal immigration into the United States, he explained.

President Fernandez Reyna of the Dominican Republic said there was recognition and praise for his country’s sustained economic growth and consolidated democratic institutions. In the past three years, the economic growth had been impressive, with an average rate annual increase of 7.5 per cent. The latter was significant, given the fact that in 1999, Latin American countries generally had experienced zero economic growth. Some countries, such as Venezuela and Ecuador, had actually experienced a negative growth rate. His country’s success was being referred to as the “Dominican model”.

Clearly defined macro-economic policies had been adopted and local and foreign investment had been encouraged, he said. In addition, foreign variables had favoured his country. Investments in the free trade zones and the flow of tourists from the United States and Europe had been very positive. In Chile, however, exports to the Asian market had decreased because of the Asian crisis. Thus, external and internal factors had contributed to his country's economic growth. In order to have sustainability over time, the Dominican Republic would need to implement a series of reforms.

Responding to correspondents’ questions, President Fernandez Reyna cited persistent drug problems in his country, such as the trans-shipment of illicit drugs. Such drugs came from South America, entered the Caribbean through Haiti and then made their way across the boarder to the Dominican Republic and ended up in the United States. In spite of the problem, there was ongoing cooperation between Dominican, Haitian and United States officials who had been very effective in dismantling drug operations.

Asked whether there were a parallel between Colombia, 15 years ago, and his country, he replied that they were very different, geographically and physically, and his country could never become a drug producer. In addition,

Dominican Republic Press Conference - 2 - 23 September 1999

the level of drug consumption in his country had always been lower than in the rest of Latin America. “Our concern in regard to drug-trafficking is the use of our territory as a trampoline for drugs on their way to the American and European markets”, he said. He was concerned that, in the future, the transit of drugs through his country would increase consumption among young people.

Asked about an increase in crime in his country, and its effect on tourism, the President said the problem was one of national and international concern. In the past, violence and crime had been attributed to poverty, but nowadays, it was more complex. In the past decade, Latin America had entered a process of modernization, which had created “a phenomenon of expectations”. There were marginalized groups that had been excluded from the process of modernization and tended to commit crimes.

Another factor contributing to the increase in crime was its transnationalization, he went on. The repatriation of Dominican nationals who had been involved in crimes in the United States and then deported posed a huge problem. There were no plans for their reintegration in society. Furthermore, the lack of professionalism in security institutions such as the police had also contributed to crime. Also, the police did not have the requisite level of training to deal with sophisticated crimes. Internal measures must be taken to improve professionalism and training in security institutions. Also needed were agreements with the United States so that Dominicans who were repatriated would have police supervision upon their arrival. In the United States, there was a legal mechanism by which people freed from jail were subject to police supervision. However, no such law existed in the Dominican Republic. Dominicans who had committed crimes in the United States, and then were repatriated, had complete freedom once they arrived in their country. It was essential to change that situation, he emphasized.

Asked about relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, he replied that they were normal and had improved significantly during his administration. The two countries had held bilateral meetings to discuss common issues related to immigration, tourism, investment and cultural exchange. Also, he had made an official visit to Haiti in 1998, which had been the first visit in over 60 years by a Dominican Head of State. Meanwhile, the Haitian President had visited the Dominican Republic at least three times during his administration. “Things are much better than they have ever been”, he said.

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