Dajabón – President Luis Abinader assured on Sunday, October 9, that if there were an intervention in Haiti, the Dominican Republic would not be part of the military force that would materialize it, and that the country’s support would be limited to the diplomatic aspect and would not accept any settlement, even for humanitarian situation, arguing that this can be done in Haitian territory itself.
He recalled that “for a year we have been carrying out diplomatic actions, since September last year, in my speech before the United Nations I said that the only way to bring peace to Haiti was with an international force to help the Haitian police, but to support them to bring peace to that country”.
In that sense, he said he hopes:
“That the international community and us will act as much as possible, obviously never intervening in any force that is going to pacify that country because we are not going to intervene, but from the diplomatic point of view. I believe that we have achieved a great advance and today the international community is truly concerned about this situation”.
President Abinader expressed that at the time of his speech before the UN many thought that his approach was excessive, but unfortunately a year has passed, after many situations and tragedies, especially for the poor people of Haiti, who are the ones who are suffering. He insisted that the country will continue to make diplomatic efforts, as it has done so far.
He indicated that until June of this year, there was not a real concern that now exists on the Haitian issue and migration, but there is already awareness, which is shown in the last meeting of the UN Security Council, which is already willing to organize itself and is sufficiently active and concerned about the Haitian problem, which is already a regional issue, he said.
For the first time, he said, CARICOM and the Dominican Republic are acting with unity of criteria on the Haitian issue, when traditionally there were only differences on this aspect.
President Abinader described as sensible, logical and patriotic the request for intervention made by the Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, seeking support from the international community to face the humanitarian crisis in his country, where 70% of the territory, especially in the South, is controlled by gangs. He said that, in case the UN intervenes, “it can perfectly well make special zones, in Haiti, of protection”.
He pointed out that, in case there is, in a first stage, a peaceful intervention in Haiti, the Dominican Government would close and block the border. “Just as we are not going to act militarily, it is very dangerous for Dominican integrity to receive asylum seekers here in the country. This is very dangerous and the greatest humanitarian assistance that we are giving to the Haitians is our diplomatic assistance to protect the poor people of Haiti, who are the ones suffering”, emphasized Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic.
Regarding the fact that many Haitians living in the country and others arriving in the country are treated in Dominican hospitals, he stated that “no country can give them more humanitarian aid, no country has given it to them as we have given it to Haiti; but I will in no way accept any settlement here, even if it is for a humanitarian situation there”.
President Abinader spoke in these terms while leading a press conference in this province, accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje; Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa; Commander General of the Army, Major General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre; Director of the Specialized Corps for Border and Land Security (CESFRONT), Brigadier General Frank Mauricio Cabrera Rizek; Governor of Dajabón, Rosalba Milagros Peña, and Congressman Darío Zapata.
