Haiti hails Dominican Republic´s ´change´ on deportations

Santo Domingo.- HaitiForeign minister Lener Reanuld on Friday lauded a "change in behavior"by Dominican Republic authorities on current repatriations, though insisted onthe need to establish a new protocol on deportations of undocumented immigrantsas proposed two months ago.

"To this day relationsbetween Haiti and its neighbor are calm,” Renauld told Haiti newspaper LeNouvellliste, noting that the Haitian authorities are being kept apprised onthe identity of returnees, as well as the places and dates when its citizens arebeing repatriated.

The deportation of undocumentedforeigners, -over 97% of them Haitian nationals according to the Interior andPolice Ministry- began August 15, just days after the deadline to apply for thegovernment program to regularize aliens expired, and which began last year.

"We welcome thisinitiative of the Dominican Republic, which should be included in a protocol ofrepatriation between the two countries," Renauld said.