New York.- Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez rejected the request for the Dominican Republic to halt the repatriation of undocumented Haitians, calling it senseless in light of the ongoing violence in Haiti, including a recent massacre in Pont-Sondé that claimed over 115 lives. Alvarez emphasized that stopping repatriations would essentially create an open border, encouraging further irregular migration. He stressed that while the Dominican Republic has long faced the Haitian crisis, it is not responsible for Haiti’s humanitarian or security issues.
Alvarez also highlighted the Dominican government’s dissatisfaction with the limited progress made by the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, four months after its deployment. Citing President Luis Abinader’s comments, he criticized countries that have not fulfilled their commitments to help stabilize Haiti. He praised the work of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and called for its involvement in organizing Haiti’s elections, but warned that holding elections under current conditions—without territorial control or proper electoral infrastructure—would not be feasible.
In closing, Alvarez urged the international community to intensify support for the Haitian people, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts in technical cooperation to pave the way for a democratic restoration in Haiti. He was joined by Dominican diplomats José Blanco and Joan Cedano at the meeting.