Santo Domingo.-The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, said that the US government will not request the Dominican Republic to accept the wave of immigrants, while stressing that the solution of the Haitian crisis is in the hands of Haiti.
“That was my position as a senator and it is my position as Secretary of State. Haiti’s solution is in the hands of Haiti, his people, his elites, but we will help. We are going to participate because we cannot ignore the problems that exist, ”Rubio said during a press conference at the end of a bilateral meeting in the National Palace.
During his speech, pronounced in Spanish, the head of the United States diplomacy clarified that his government undertakes to continue participating with the multinational mission of support for security in Haiti (MMS), directed by Kenya, which contributes to guarantee the safety of the hemisphere.
“There have been reports that are not really correct about what the current position is. Since last week I had already signed permission to follow our help to that mission and we will continue that mission and continue supporting. Today I talked to Kenya’s president to reinforce that, ”he said.
On his side, President Abinader reiterated the urgency of greater international support to face the crisis in Haiti that “every day that passes a barbarism of fire and blood is consumed.”
“The situation of Haiti is a threat to the security of the entire region, including that of the United States. Every day that passes a barbarism of fire and blood is consumed. Haiti drowns, while an important part of the international community observes passive from the guerrillas without showing the commitment that demands such a serious situation, ”he said.
Rare earth
The president said that preliminary studies indicate the existence in the country of 100 million tons of rare earths, a figure that, if confirmed, would represent an important strategic resource for the nation and its commercial partners.
In this regard, Rubio stressed the importance of collaboration in the rare earth industry, essential for the global economy. “Hopefully we can work together and make the US body of engineers, which has helped and worked under the contract with you, to identify something that will be extremely important for the future of the world, for the modern economy,” he said .
Likewise, he highlighted the role of the Dominican Republic in the expansion of the semiconductor industry, a key sector for modern technology in areas such as medicine and defense, as well as the country’s potential to become an innovation and technology center, given its proximity to the United States and its stability as an allied nation.
Drug trafficking
President Abinader appointed Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa as the country’s anti -drug tsar, to continue leading efforts along with the United States in the fight against drugs.
“The impressive record of Cabrera Ulloa endorses it to successfully lead this new fight,” said the president during the press conference with the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Abinader added that the designation of the head of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) is due to the growing threat and expansion that synthetic drugs represent, as well as the result of bilateral conversations between the two countries.
After a busy schedule in the country, Rubio left at 6:30 in the afternoon from the Américas International Airport towards Miami and, later, will return to Washington.
Accompanied by a broad security contingent, it culminated its first official visit to the region, which included Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and, finally, Dominican Republic.
Meeting
—1— Thanks
Abinader thanked the US collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking and security with the donation of biometric test equipment.
—2— Energy
Rubio stressed the relevance of working to strengthen electricity generation in the Dominican Republic, which will also benefit Puerto Rico.
