Above: US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano in Santo Domingo (Photo: OP)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez received United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano for talks in Santo Domingo Friday.

The discussions focused on issues of security, particularly the fight against trafficking in drugs and persons.

Napolitano was joined at the hour-long talks by US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Raul Izaguirre.

“We are so grateful for the partnership we have with the Dominican Republic,” Napolitano said following the meeting. “You are good neighbours and good friends, and the joint actions we are working on are going to make all of us, both peoples and both nations, safer.”

The meeting culminated in the signing of several agreements between the two countries in areas including trafficking and civil aviation.

Napolitano said the two sides had held several working sessions with their Dominican counterparts which she described as “very productive.”

The meeting was part of a series of visits to Latin American and Caribbean countries by Napolitano.

It followed her visit to Brazil earlier in the week.