US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO614

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTO DOMINGO 000614 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, WHA/USOAS, EB/TPP/BTA, 
EB/IFD/OMA; 
NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON;LABOR FOR ILAB; 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD; TREASURY FOR OASIA-LCARTER 
STATE PASS USTR FOR VARGO, RYCKMAN, MALITO, CRONIN 
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION 
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH; DHS FOR CIS-CARLOS ITURREGUI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, CJAN, ETRD, EFIN, KJUS, DR, HA 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON HAITI, CAFTA, 
EXTRADITIONS, IMF COMPLIANCE 
 
Classified By: DCM Lisa Kubiske for Reason 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Haiti, CAFTA, extraditions, and compliance 
with the new IMF agreement dominated the February 7 bilateral 
breakfast meeting between the Ambassador and Dominican 
Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso.  The Foreign 
Minister told the Ambassador that the Dominican ambassador to 
Haiti did not represent GODR views and would be replaced 
within two weeks.  He described his government's interest in 
Haiti issues and mentioned his friendship with 
newly-appointed Haitian Foreign Minister Abraham.  On CAFTA, 
the Foreign Minister noted that the Dominican Congress 
already is considering the free trade agreement, though much 
of the public remains ignorant of the agreement's 
implications.  On extraditions, the Ambassador emphasized the 
U.S. request for the Dominican Republic to extradite 
narcotrafficker Quirino Paulino as a test of the Dominican 
justice system and new criminal procedures code, and, 
separately, was told of the GODR's coming request that the 
United States extradite Sam Goodson in connection with the 
Plan Renove corruption case.  Finally, the Ambassador 
questioned whether a proposal to build a metro (subway) 
system for Santo Domingo would be consistent with the new IMF 
stand-by agreement, noting that the IMF Board's recent 
approval of the agreement probably represented a "last 
chance" for the GODR to comply.  The Foreign Minister took 
the point, but noted that the initial phase of the project 
had already been accounted for in the 2005 budget.  End 
summary. 
 
End summary. 
 
2. (C) Dominican Republic Secretary of State for Foreign 
Relations Carlos Morales Troncoso hosted a breakfast for the 
Ambassador February 7 to discuss pending issues.  Morales's 
economic adviser Luis Piantini and poloff participated. 
 
Haiti 
- - - 
 
3. (C) Morales Troncoso said emphatically that Dominican 
Ambassador to Haiti Jose Serulle Ramia was not representing 
his government's policy and would be replaced within the next 
two weeks.   Morales called him "crazy" and useless." 
Morales characterized new Haitian Foreign Minister Herard 
Abraham as "pro-United States, pro-Dominican Republic, and an 
enemy of (Haitian rebel) Guy Philippe."  Abraham had been "a 
friend of mine" since 1989, Morales said, referring to the 
period when Morales was Dominican Vice President and Abraham 
was a presidential candidate in Haiti. 
 
4. (C) Morales said that UN SRSG Juan Gabriel Valdes will be 
back in the Dominican Republic February 17-20, following up 
his visit last month.  Morales mentioned a French-organized 
conference of donor countries on Haiti in Cayenne, French 
Guiana, in early March.  France and Canada at least will be 
represented at foreign minister level, according to Morales. 
He plans to attend and offer Abraham a ride on the same 
aircraft. 
 
5. (C) Another MFA official subsequently informed us that the 
French had asked President Fernandez to postpone the Haiti 
conference of interested countries that he had proposed for 
late February or early March in Santo Domingo with UN 
approval/concurrence.  Although Fernandez has deferred this 
plan, we were told he still intends to pursue it later. 
6. (C) A "conservative sector of (Fanmi) Lavalas" led by Paul 
Denis had requested a meeting with the foreign minister on "a 
political matter," Morales said.  He believed the Haitians 
might seek political training.  A group of businessmen here 
(acronym OLP - n.f.i.) was interested, but lacked political 
experience.  Morales said he might suggest to Salvadoran 
President Saca that his ARENA party get involved in 
democratic political training in Haiti.  The Ambassador 
offered to obtain for the MFA the names and contact 
information of reputable U.S. institutions that have such 
programs. 
 
Extraditions 
- - - - - - - 
 
7. (C) The Ambassador emphasized the U.S. interest in the 
requested extradition of imprisoned, wealthy Dominican 
narcotrafficker Quirino Paulino Castillo, and characterized 
the Dominican Supreme Court's pending decision on the 
extradition request as a test of the justice system.  Morales 
acknowledged that justice here could be "subject to 
influence" and said his government was interested in 
strengthening the system.  On a separate case, MFA Legal 
Adviser Miguel Pichardo informed the group that a Dominican 
request to extradite Sam Goodson, purportedly a U.S./Israeli 
dual national, from the United States to the Dominican 
Republic had been forwarded by the MFA to the Attorney 
General's office, and Pichardo expected it would be ready for 
delivery to the U.S. Government in a week or so.  Goodson, 
resident in Miami and reportedly an officer of Hyundai Motors 
of America, is one of several persons accused of corruption 
in connection with Plan Renove, a government program to 
provide motor vehicles to bus and taxi operators at low cost. 
 
 
Spending and the IMF 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
8. (C) The Ambassador underscored the need for the Dominican 
Government's full compliance with its recently approved IMF 
standby agreement, recalling failures two previous accords 
since August 2003.  This was the last chance, he said, and 
counseled prudence on new spending.  He questioned whether 
the proposal of Minister without Portfolio Diandino Pena to 
build a subway, formally announced on February 7, could be 
consistent with the nation's IMF commitments.  Morales took 
the point, but noted that the initial phase of the project 
was in the 2005 budget, which had been vetted with the IMF. 
Morales also commented that the project could become a 
political liability for the ruling PLD. 
 
CAFTA Ratification 
- - - - - - - - - - 
 
9. (C) The Ambassador reiterated the U.S. priority of CAFTA 
ratification by all signatory countries.  Morales said a 
white paper on CAFTA-related labor issues was awaiting 
President Fernandez's signature.  The foreign minister noted 
that the Dominican Congress was already considering the free 
trade agreement.  Morales commented, "Ninety-five percent of 
the population doesn't understand CAFTA."  The Ambassador 
said that the Embassy was exploring public affairs programs, 
possibly including speakers, to address this. 
10. (U) This piece and others in our series can be consulted 
on our classified SIPRNET site 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/  along with 
extensive other material. 
HERTELL