Santo Domingo – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton conducted a “Digital Town Hall of the Americas” at the Foundation for Global Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE) where she shared for approximately one hour with dozens of Dominicans interested in issues related to US foreign policy and simultaneously launched a virtual conversation with people from the Western Hemisphere, streamed live through townhall.america.gov.
The objective of the Digital Town Hall, held on Friday morning, April 17, was to provide local and Western Hemisphere citizens with the possibility of having a meaningful dialogue with Secretary Clinton, and give her the opportunity of answering questions related to the Fifth Summit of the Americas, promotion of human prosperity, energy security, environmental sustainability and the situation in Haiti.
The event was streamed live, in English and Spanish, through simultaneous interpretation.
Secretary Clinton answered questions submitted by citizens from throughout the Hemisphere in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, as well as from the 150 local participants who attended the Town Hall.
Students, academics, international analysts, lawyers, entrepreneurs, as well as representatives from the country’s various sectors attended the event.
President Fernández and the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernandez, also attended the Town Hall.
The Digital Town Hall was held hours before the formal opening of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, to be held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17-19. The Heads of State and Government from the Americas, as well as representatives from Spain, are scheduled to attend the Summit.
This Summit also marks the first participation of US President Barack Obama in the hemisphere.
At the Summit the Heads of State and Government will discuss, among others issues, the following: international financial crisis, channeling of funds to the region through multilateral organizations, commerce, immigration, arms and drug trafficking and the environment.
Representatives from FUNGLODE welcomed Secretary Clinton to the Town Hall.
