During a meeting with journalists at the National Palace, President Luis Abinader questioned on the security of the Dominican Republic in relation to the crisis in Haiti, declared "The Dominican Republic has the necessary resources to protect the sovereignty of its territory [more of 12,000 soldiers deployed along the border] in case the armed gangs operating in Haiti decide to cross the border faced of a possible international mission led by Kenya," adding "We have acquired military equipment which will be distributed in a practical way to the specified time. We have a lot of information about what could happen at this border, which is well protected."

He assured "these gangs will not enter the country [...] We are well prepared for anything that could happen in Haiti."

Finally, Abinader announced that he would participate in the next United Nations General Assembly and that he would do so "mainly to follow and be informed" by world leaders of the situation in Haiti. Recalling that for "historical reasons", the Dominican Republic can only provide humanitarian aid to Haiti.

SL/ iciHaiti