SANTO DOMINGO.- Dominican Republic and the United States signed in this capital this morning a landmark “Joint Declaration of Principles,” which “promises to provide greater security to a growing volume of commercial interchange between both our countries,” and includes the Container Security Initiative (CSI).

Dominican Customs director Miguel Cocco and U.S. ambassador Hans Hertell –speaking before the signing ceremony held in the Customs Agency Offices- both praised the efforts put forth by the U.S. and local Customs teams in the coordination to get the local agencies and the Punta Caucedo Multimodal Port to meet the requirements leading to the accord, which includes the security certification of that facility.

Hertell also praised president Leonel Fernandez’s stance on opening the country toward free trade, citing the chief executive’s statements during his recent tour of Asia, specifically offering Japan the opportunity to use Dominican Republic as a door the American market.

But with increased trade, he warned that there’s also the risk that terrorists could take advantage of the world’s yearly traffic of some 200 million containers and port facilities. “This security systems is designed to protect us all, but without hindering the world economy, from origin to destination,” he said, in reference to the CSI, a system which is operating in just 44 ports around the world.

The diplomat revealed that 85% of the country’s exports to the United States is shipped from the Punta Caucedo terminal, which makes the ideal setting to imitate what he described as a “pre-selection” process to screen containers, the port’s exclusive shipping mode. He said that the screening, together with the use of hi-tech containers, aims to detect possible manipulations en route.

As part of the security features within the agreement, is the use of “intelligent” containers and by applying technology, their identification as “high risk,” which could be used by terrorists and for other illicit activities.

Customs culminates an 18 month effort.

For his part, Customs director Cocco also praised the effort by the personnel to accomplish the certification, which makes Dominican Republic only the third country in the hemisphere to accomplish it, despite the “rigorous demands” which the United States authority placed as a condition to the certification. He affirmed that it would benefit Dominican exporters because their containers would get to the U.S. markets with less obstacles.

After praising Dominican Port Authority director Jose A. Sanz for his efforts in the certification process, the official affirmed that the measure contributes to more competitiveness and fairer trade, which in turn improves the distribution of wealth.

For his part, Dominican Port Authority Jose A. Sanz, speaking exclusively for Dominican Today, said that the in addition to Punta Caucedo, the port Haina Oriental would also be included in the agreement, affording exporters using it the same advantages of expeditious shipments to the U.S.

“Haina is next in line, it has met all the necessary requirements to enter into that classification,” he said, in reference to the country’s busiest marine terminal.

He added that U.S. authorities have also praised the Government’s efforts to curb the presence of stowaways who board ships headed to Miami and other American ports.

Also present in the signing ceremony were U.S embassy and Dominican Government and military officials, as well as private sector leaders.