Dominican Republic mulls leader´s visit as Haiti violence rages

Santo Domingo.- Foreignminister Andres Navarro on Tuesday sought to allay fears on president DaniloMedina’s announced visit to Haiti, whose date has to be set thus far.

He said the Dominicanpopulation shouldn’t worry about an attack on Medina since in his view it "willalways be preceded by an analysis of the situation" in foreignterritories.

Navarro said DominicanRepublic has mechanisms and mature state security agencies to determine whethertravel to a particular nation is advisable. "The country can be sure andhave no doubt that any visit by the President to any country would be precededby an analysis of the situation of the feasibility and correct whatever itspresence in any country in the world."

On Mondayinternational agencies reported the deaths of 15 people including two pregnantwomen in election-related violence in Haiti, specifically in the Port-au-Princeslum Cite Soleil.

Medina´s visit,announced last week during his meeting with Haiti president Michel Martelly, isin the agenda of talks between the two countries to reach an agreement ontrade, affected by the ban on overland entry of 23 Dominican products.

The official wasinterviewed after concluding the Fourth Meeting of Regional Integration Mechanismsof the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.