Wednesday, as part of the launching ceremony of the week of the Diaspora (from 13 to 20 April), on the campus of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), in Barahona under the coordination of the Zile Foundation, inational organization promoting solidarity and peace in the island, Araceli Azuara, the Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) issued a message of Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the hemispheric organization.

In which she acknowledged the many contributions of Haitian immigrants and their descendants in the Dominican Republic, and urged the two states on the island to adopt measures to protect human rights stressing "The Dominican Republic and Haiti have different languages and have different characteristics and cultures, like many other countries in the world, but they maintain a constant communication through various channels whether diplomatic, commercial and cultural [...] In the spirit of good neighborliness, we urge Haiti and the Dominican Republic to jointly adopt measures to protect human rights and permanent solutions to the problems that remain to be resolved."

Ms. Azuara, highlighted the contributions of Haitian beyond the Dominican Republic "Taking into account the socio-cultural and historical dimensions of the Haitian diaspora, OAS recognizes that it is part of the economic, social and cultural development of the Americas ".

"Recall that the Haitian community in the Dominican Republic is the oldest in the diaspora in the world and that its financial contribution represents almost 11% of all remittances received in Haiti. It is also important to recognize the key role of immigrant labor to the productive sectors and for the Dominican economy," stressed Luis Almagro in his message.

In his speech, former Ambassador of Haiti to the Dominican Republic Edwin Parison (Zile Foundation) recalled with insistence that "every migrant must be considered as a representative of his country to the Dominican community, so I urge the countrymen to maintain exemplary conduct and strengthen their reputation and their active participation in various areas of production in the Dominican Republic."

TB/ HaitiLibre