SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) 鈥 Russia expects to open its first embassy in the Dominican Republic as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov defined the Caribbean country as a 鈥減romising partner鈥 on Wednesday during an official trip.
Lavrov, who met behind closed doors with Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto 脕lvarez, said Russia plans to strengthen its commercial and economic ties with the Dominican Republic, saying there are 鈥渕utual opportunities.鈥
鈥淲e also discussed how things are developing in the context of the various discussions on United Nations reform and the trends we see in the context of the creation of the multipolar order,鈥 Lavrov said.
He did not provide further details.
Meanwhile, 脕lvarez said a key conversation topic was 鈥渢he profound political, security and humanitarian crisis affecting Haiti and how this impacts the Dominican Republic.鈥
Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have recently , deporting more than 180,000 people since October .
A U.N.-backed mission to help quell gang violence in Haiti is struggling given a shortage of funds and personnel.
The U.S. and others as a solution, but the proposal was dropped following opposition from Russia and China.
脕lvarez said he told Lavrov that the Dominican Republic is advocating 鈥渇or more effective, coordinated and urgent action鈥 by the multinational force.
鈥淲e hope the United Nations will play a central and more active role in logistics and financing to ensure its effectiveness,鈥 he said.
Lavrov, who arrived Tuesday in the Dominican Republic, was expected to also meet with President Luis Abinader.
He did not say when the Russian embassy would open in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital.
