Hispaniola presidents talk to ease tension, bolster trade

Barahona, Dominican Republic.-After four hours and 35 minutes the meeting between the presidents of the DominicanRepublic, Danilo Medina and of Haiti, Michel Martelly concluded in a salon onthe second floor of Barahona´s Maria Montez International Airport (southwest).

The Haitian andDominican heads of state discussed the lifting of the ban imposed by Port-au-Princeon 23 domestic products, a measure which unleashed protests in towns on bothsides of the border. However, Martelly didn´t specify whether the ban will be lifted any time soon.

The two leaders agreedto continue the talks in Port-au-Prince in the next two weeks to reach anagreement over the dispute and increase trade

"The goal is toachieve an agreement to bolster trade and normalize the land transport of goodsbetween the two countries," said a statement read by Dominican Foreign ministerAndrés Navarro.

The officials whoaccompanied Martelly included Foreign Affairs minister Esthefanie BalmirVilledrouin; Economy and Finance minister Lalau Wilson; Trade and Industry ministerJude Hervé Day; Interior minister ZephrinArdouin; Communication minister Mario Dupus and Michel Chancy, Secretary for livestockproduction.

Officials of the HaitianEmbassy in Dominican Republic also participated.

In the Dominican delegationfigured the ministers of the Presidency, Gustavo Montalvo; Administrative JoseRamon Peralta; Industry and Commerce, José del Castillo; Interior and Police JoseRamon Fadul and Customs director Fernando Fernandez.