Madrid - Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez on Monday called on the Ibero-American Community to admit Haiti as a member in an act of "historic reparation."Haiti was the first Caribbean republic to proclaim independence in 1804, Fernandez pointed out on beginning a five-day official visit to Spain.
He was referring to the celebrations that are being prepared in many Latin American countries to mark the bicentennial of their independence from Spain.
Haiti was a Spanish colony before going under French rule.
Haiti also broke ground by abolishing slavery, for which it paid a "heavy price," said Fernandez, whose country shares the Hispaniola island with Haiti.
The Ibero-American Community, which includes Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking nations in Europe and the Americas, stages annual summits.
