Spanish
Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader, and three former presidents of the country met this Wednesday and agreed that the situation of instability in Haiti represents a threat not only to its population, but to the entire region, especially to the Dominican Republic.
The ruler and former presidents Hipólito Mejía, Danilo Medina, and Leonel Fernández reaffirmed the "need" to apply the immigration law with "firmness" and respect for human rights, through the operations of arrest and deportation of undocumented Haitians.
The Government spokesperson, Homero Figueroa, said in a document that the four leaders insisted that the Dominican Republic cannot "bear alone" the consequences of the Haitian crisis, and that a lasting solution to this can only be achieved on Haitian territory itself with the "decisive" support of the international community.
Read more: Abinader and former presidents agree that the solution to the Haitian crisis does not fall on the DR
"There is not and will not be a Dominican solution to the Haitian crisis," the official said while reading a document, alluding to a concept that President Abinader has championed on several occasions.
According to official information, the former presidents acknowledged the government's sustained effort to alert the international community about the seriousness of the crisis in Haiti, as well as the multiple efforts that the authorities have made before the United Nations Security Council on this issue.
At that point, Figueroa said that Dominican efforts have also been directed to the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the European Union (EU) and to countries such as the United States and Canada.
Abinader and his predecessors agreed to form joint working spaces for the definition of a policy regarding Haiti, in addition to convening other sectors to the discussions through the Economic and Social Council (CES), whose first meeting they agreed to attend.
In addition, periodic reports will be delivered to former presidents on the state of national security with respect to Haiti.
Also, Abinader will hold bilateral meetings with Mejía, Fernández, and Medina.
"The meeting has been a milestone and demonstrates political maturity and sends a key message of unity. The president and former presidents call on Dominican society to maintain cohesion and support the democratic institutions that act in defense of the territory," said the document read by the spokesperson.
It was highlighted that the meeting took place "above" political differences since "love for the homeland" always prevails for the sovereignty, stability, and democracy of the Dominican Republic.
Haiti and the Dominican Republic share a border of almost 400 kilometers, and hundreds of thousands of Haitians reside in the latter country, most of them in an irregular migratory status.
The government ordered a massive deportation program in October and has strengthened border controls with a fence it is building on the border, the use of advanced technology equipment, and the deployment of thousands of troops.
Likewise, it has tightened measures internally with decisions such as deporting undocumented Haitians who go to hospitals and other public health centers.
