President Abinader to attend Ukraine peace conference

Lisbon.- During his visit to Lisbon, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic announced on Tuesday that he has accepted an invitation to attend the peace conference on Ukraine scheduled for June 15 and 16 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Abinader made this statement alongside Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at the Palácio de Belém, where they engaged in a meeting lasting just over half an hour following a reception with military honors.

The Dominican president, addressing journalists without fielding questions, explained that Rebelo de Sousa had convinced him to participate in the peace conference.

“We had already received an invitation from President Pedro Sánchez of Spain, but after discussing it with President Rebelo, we can confirm our attendance,” said Abinader, stressing the global significance of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. “We will be there to work towards peace, an objective we share with President Rebelo,” he added.

Rebelo de Sousa echoed Abinader’s sentiments, noting that their discussions encompassed the international landscape and efforts towards peacebuilding in Europe, including the situation in Ukraine.

“We stand together on these issues,” affirmed the Portuguese president, highlighting the longstanding international collaboration between their nations. He also referenced Portugal’s support for the Dominican Republic’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2018, and expressed hope for reciprocal support for Portugal’s candidacy for the same position in 2027.

At the bilateral level, discussions included maritime affairs, with Abinader expressing interest in bolstering collaboration in defense, maritime security, and ecological sustainability. Both leaders expressed a desire to deepen the bilateral agreement signed between their countries a year and a half ago concerning digital matters and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Rebelo de Sousa emphasized the potential for enhanced collaboration across various sectors such as economy, culture, technology, and science. Abinader echoed this sentiment, affirming his commitment to strengthening relations and citing Portugal’s success in digital transformation as an area of mutual interest.

Following their meeting, President Abinader visited the facilities of the Portuguese Agency for Administrative Modernization (AMA), after which he joined his Portuguese counterpart for lunch. The camaraderie between the two leaders was evident, with Abinader praising Rebelo de Sousa’s leadership and referring to him as a mentor since their first encounter at an Ibero-American summit.