Abinader insists on need to halt illegal canal construction in Haiti

New York, Sep 18 (EFE) - The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, will meet this Tuesday with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, in New York, to discuss the African country's proposal to create a multinational force in Haiti, which is experiencing a security crisis.

Abinader announced the meeting during a press conference on the conflict between his country and Haiti, with which it shares the island of Hispaniola, after closing its air, land, and sea borders to its neighbour.

According to the Dominican president, he will attend the meeting with Ruto - within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly - scheduled for noon "to listen and take measures" in his country. (Camera: ÁNGEL COLMENARES).

FOOTAGE SHOWS THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,LUIS ABINADER, IN NEW YORK, US.

SOUND BITES: LUIS ABINADER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

TRANSLATION:

All we want is for the treaty to be respected, and for international agreements to be respected. If these constructions stop, then we will be able to focus, and everything will go back to normal. But the construction has to stop.

We are not going to meet, and we are not going to take unilateral measures when the agreements, which clearly state that the canal is illegal, are not respected.

We are not planning a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Henry, but we are open to dialogue, with one condition: that they stop the construction of the canal.

We have shouted in favour of the idea of Haiti actually being intervened since the Haitian community itself considered it impossible. I think that is the solution to their problems. We hope that with the ongoing events and processes, the integration and participation of the Republic of Kenya will come into play. That is why tomorrow we have a meeting with their president.

We hope that, together with a multinational force, they will be able to bring peace to Haiti, which is the beginning of this country's path to normalisation.

The Dominican Republic can rest assured that peace and tranquilly are guaranteed and that [our citizens] can continue their normal activities throughout the national territory.