The Dominican Government announced yesterday that it had no preference between the two candidates for the presidency of Haiti. Carlos Morales Troncoso, Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a statement sent from London, where the Minister met with several NGOs working in Haiti, that "the interest of his country, was limited to the holding of fair elections, so that the Haitian people clearly expressed its will" stating "that the second round of elections in the neighboring country is an important opportunity for Haiti, to continue on the path of the democracy and to devote itself to a period of political stability" which in his opinion, is essential to the enormous task of reconstruction and to the institutional strengthening". Troncoso affirmed that the role of the Dominican Republic "is merely that of an observer, which adheres strictly to the principle of nonintervention in the internal affairs of another country".

He recalled that he and the President Leonel Fernández, had met in Santo Domingo the two presidential candidates, Michel Martelly and Mirlande Manigat and that "both deserve respect" adding that "Our interest is to work with Mr. Martelly or Mrs. Manigat, with the person chosen by the Haitians".

The Minister reiterated the commitment of the Dominican Republic to Haiti, while urging the international community to accelerate the disbursements promised for the reconstruction of Haiti. In his view, "once the new administration in place, these payments should be done more quickly".

S/ HaitiLibre