This report addresses the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The CAFTA-DR is a regional agreement with all parties subject to “the same set of obligations and commitments,” but with each country defining its own market access schedule.

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On August 5, 2004, the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic signed the Dominican Republic- Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, or the DR-CAFTA. The DR-CAFTA was negotiated as a regional agreement in which all parties would be subject to the “the same set of obligations and commitments,” but with each country defining its own separate schedules for market access. It is a comprehensive and reciprocal trade agreement, which distinguishes it from the unilateral preferential trade arrangement between the United States and these countries as part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), as amended. It liberalizes trade in goods, services, government procurement, intellectual property, investment, and addresses labor and environment issues.

Interview with Valentin R. Ybarra regarding his experiences during World War II. He discusses his wartime experiences in Peleliu and Okinawa as well as occupation duty in Japan and China. He also had an assignment in Spain. He remembers the Cuban Missile Crisis, the revolt in the Dominican Republic, and his service in Vietnam.

This report discusses the political and economic conditions in Dominican Republic and its relations with United States.

Photograph of attendees of the 2003 World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas dancing at the closing ceremony dinner. The dinner venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales) in the Dominican Republic.

Photograph of Adrienne Kaeppler providing the introduction to the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of Alan Stark giving a talk entitled "Contemporary Traditions: A Personal View of Survival and Revival" at World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of Alan Stark dancing at the 2003 World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas closing ceremony dinner. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales) in the Dominican Republic.

Photograph of a ballet performance during Friday evening performance "En Danza" at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This image is of a solo ballet dancer kneeling on the stage. She wears a white tutu and has a red hair piece.

Photograph of a ballet performance during Friday evening performance "En Danza" at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The dancers are young girls who are dancing en pointe in a circle.

Photograph of a female belly dancer performing during "En Danza," the Friday evening dance recital, at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The woman is in a squatting position and clapping her hands.

Photograph of a male and female dancer performing during "En Danza," the Friday evening dance recital, at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The woman is standing in front of the man and he holds her leg in a développé.

Photograph of "Creating Dance in the 21st Century" panelists Jorge A. Mendoza, Peter Palacio, Nejla Yatkin, and Edmundo Poy seated behind a table at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of a dance performance during "En Danza," the Friday evening dance recital, at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. A young girl dressed in black stands tall while other dancers stand to her left, hunched over.

Photograph of dancers in traditional costumes performing at the closing ceremony for the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales).

Photograph of dancers in traditional costumes performing at the closing ceremony for the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales).

Photograph of a female dancer performing during "En Danza," the Friday evening dance recital, at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The woman wears a white romper.

Photograph of a female dancer performing during "En Danza," the Friday evening dance recital, at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of then World Dance Alliance President Grant Strate welcoming attendees to the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of a group of girls in school uniforms performing during "En Danza," the Friday evening dance recital, at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The girls, huddled in a group, are miming laughter and are moving energetically.

Photograph of a group of young girls in schoolgirl uniforms performing during "En Danza," the Friday evening dance recital, at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The girls are huddled in a group and are miming telling secrets.

Photograph of moderator George Dorris and panelists Madeleine Nichols, Mary Jane Warner and Marili Gallardo during "Investigation and Documentation: Contemporary Policies and Its Impact in Dance" panel at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of Kari Schroeder giving a talk entitled "Salsa Culture Redefined: A Sexual, Political and Cultural Exploration" at World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.