U.S. warns of consequences over gold mine contract, urges dialogue

Santo Domingo.- U.S. ambassador Raul Yzaguirre on Wednesday said president Danilo Medina’s decision on the contract with the miner Barrick Gold, "will bring consequences," but didn’t specify. "That is a matter between Barrick and the Dominican Republic. We must view with confidence that the dialogue will continue."

Speaking with the journalists in Congress after ??Medina’s speech, the diplomat said however that he doesn’t believe the case could lead to the severing of Dominican Republic-Canada relations. "I don’t think it will get to that level, but there will be consequences."

Very sensitive

In that regard, Yzaguirre called for calm between the government and Barrick Gold executives, to go to the dialogue table to reach an agreement favorable to both parties, to bolster the country’s mining contracts. "That‘s a very sensitive issue, and therefore must be viewed very carefully."