Roberto Álvarez: No barriers prevented Haitian Officials from attending inauguration

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s Foreign Minister, Roberto Álvarez, addressed recent reports by journalist Jacqueline Charles claiming that Haitian officials had declined to attend President Luis Abinader’s swearing-in ceremony.

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Álvarez explained via his X account (formerly Twitter) that he had discussed the matter with the Haitian foreign minister on August 1, who inquired about the need to reopen airspace between the two countries for the visit. Álvarez assured that any flight request from Haitian officials would be promptly approved, despite the ongoing closure of airspace to commercial flights for security reasons.

To facilitate Haitian attendance, Álvarez instructed the Dominican ambassador in Haiti to engage with the Haitian Foreign Ministry, reaffirming the Dominican government’s commitment to ensuring their participation. He stressed that no obstacles prevented Haitian officials from attending the event, which could have served as an opportunity to restart dialogue with Haiti’s transitional government.

This statement aims to clear up any misunderstandings and highlight the Dominican Republic’s dedication to diplomacy and cooperation with Haiti.