“My commitment to the Dominican Republic is to bequeath to future generations a much safer country, economically stable and with consolidated growth,” said President Luis Abinader during the second high-level dialogue on institutional reforms between the Dominican Republic and the United States.
Abinader affirmed that since he assumed the presidency, his commitment to transparency, the fight against drug trafficking and all related forms of crime that affect the region are flags that he proudly and effectively carries.
At the event, the President announced that he will propose the celebration of a Summit for Democracy to achieve the changes that the country needs.
In this meeting, with the participation of Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), transcendental topics such as the National Strategy, Police Reform and Public Contracting Reform were discussed.
Likewise, the Civil Forfeiture of illicit goods, popularly known as the Law of Extinction of Dominion, for whose configuration and prompt approval, the Head of State said that they will work tirelessly.
Likewise, the parties are addressing the reform of the State Supervisory Entities, human trafficking and smuggling.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, the fight against drug trafficking and all criminal activities.
He said that what this meeting truly represents is an act of vital importance in which both governments reaffirm mutual understanding, the validity of agreements in different matters, and ratify the mutual trust and commitment to the maintenance of excellent bilateral relations.
“The United States is committed with us to actively help in the much needed reform of the National Police; it offers us its collaboration in the fight against corruption, the improvement of transparency and in finally achieving a good result in matters of citizen security”, he pointed out.
He valued the willingness of the Government of the United States to support in this fight against organized crime and mafias, whose actions, due to globalization, affect all the countries of the world.
He thanked the Director of USAID and her team for their efforts in making this Second High-Level Dialogue between the countries possible.
The President said that the purpose of the meeting was to address various issues on the common agenda of both countries, in order to strengthen institutions, cooperation between states and the reinforcement of democracy in the region and the world.
He stated that it is no coincidence that the countries are promoters of these initiatives in favor of development and economic, social and political stability.
Excellent relations
President Abinader defined the relations between the Dominican Republic and the United States of America as excellent.
“The commitment we have acquired is to work towards the development of our peoples, the growth of our economies and in favor of strengthening our democratic systems,” he said.
He recalled that a few months ago they spoke of the importance of citizen security for the country, as a common element to which they pay the greatest attention and on which they understand the need for collaboration at the highest level.
Living in peace and freedom
President Abinader kept his word that the Dominican Republic will be a country for coexistence and respect for individual rights, economic growth and the development of families and their life projects.
From this, he added, key elements for the socio-economic development that foreign investments bring, which also bring with them the generation of quality jobs and the growth of the booming tourism industry.
He insisted that the Dominican people deserve to live in peace and freedom.
“The obstacles are many. Change will not be easy. It never has been. But I also know, as I have said on several occasions, that this is the time to push for these reforms. And that we are ready, that the country is ready. And there is no turning back,” he reiterated.
Present at the ceremony were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez; Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States, Robert Thomas.
Also present were the presidents of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella, of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, of the Chamber of Accounts, Janel Ramírez; the ministers of Interior and Police, Jesús -Chu- Vásquez; of Finance, Jochy Vicente; the legal consultant of the Executive Branch, Antoliano Peralta; the director of the National Police, Edward Sánchez; the director of Government Ethics, Milagros Ortiz Bosch, among others.
