The Minister of Foreign Affairs Roberto Alvarez of the Dominican Republic informed delegates of the 1st UN Tourism Africa and America’s Summit that the two continents share an ancestral unbreakable bond that is projected towards mutual understanding and brotherhood.
He said the genetic composition of citizens of the Dominican Republic is 49% African and 51% Dominican, according to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania in the United States of America. “Africa,” he continued, was the drum that marks the rhythm of our life.” That is why his country has signed 48 diplomatic relationships with the 52 countries in Africa and is ready to sign with the remaining countries.
The high- level Ministerial dialogue is ongoing as all the countries represented are presently reviewing the Draft Punta Cana Declaration that will be adopted today.
In her contribution to the high-level Ministerial dialogue, Hon. Tunis expressed His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to promoting tourism and culture by making it a key enabler to the government’s Big Five Game Changers in the country’s Medium – Term National Development Plan. “The current reforms in the tourism landscape has given us the opportunity to host the next UN Tourism Africa and America’s Summit,” she noted. She concluded by inviting member States to the forthcoming Women in Tourism Congress in Freetown.
Minister Tunis is scheduled to deliberate on the “History of our joint Roots: Two continents, One Story – The cultural connections between Africa and the Americas” at tomorrow’s session.
Stay tuned for more information.
