Santo Domingo, Jul 20 (Prensa Latina) Dominican Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso said his country has the right to establish relations with any nation it considers fit, irrespective of ties among other countries.


Carlos Morales' statements to a local newspaper were a swipe at the US government's alleged distrust of the Dominican Republic's diplomatic links with Venezuela and Cuba.



The country has benefited considerably from an oil agreement for transport, and through a credit increase and interest reductions, stressed Morales.



Morales said Washington should respect his nation's right to have relations with any country, because the Dominican Republic respects that of the US.



"We are a sovereign state with the right to have relations irrespective of other nations' stances. Our ties with Washington are marked by mutual respect, we respect them and they should respect us," stressed the Dominican Foreign minister.



Carlos Morales Troncoso stated President Leonel Fernandez would visit Qatar in 2005 as part of moves to open diplomatic relations with the Arab country.