Anibal de Castro (Photo: DomRep.org)

Last month, Dominican Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States Roberto Saladin sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo expressing his support for the creation of a new, predominantly Latino Congressional district in New York. After the letter drew criticism it was an inappropriate foreign intervention, Dominican Ambassador to the United States, Aníbal de Castro sent an email to The Politicker disavowing Mr. Saladin's letter and clarifying his government's position on New York's redistricting dilemma.

"I would like to categorically state that the Dominican Republic views the electoral affairs of the United States, including redistricting issues, as internal and sovereign concerns," Mr. de Castro wrote. "While it is true that the Dominican people would be pleased and proud if the valuable contribution of Americans of Dominican descent were celebrated through the election of one of their representatives to Congress, we respect the absolute right of the competent authorities in the United States to handle the enfranchisement of its citizens in different jurisdictions without external interference."

Mr. Saladin's letter was sent February 21 following a visit to Albany where he attended a ceremony where the State Senate proclaimed February Dominican Heritage Month in New York. During that visit, Mr. Saladin spoke to Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expressing his support for the Latino district. In his letter to the governor, Mr. Saladin described the creation of the district as a "question of utmost importance" for the Dominican diaspora.

The Politicker was first to report on Mr. Saladin's letter. In our story, we referred to Mr. Saladin as "the Dominican Republic’s Ambassador to the United States" rather than the Dominican Ambassador to the Organization of American States. Mr. de Castro described this as a "false attribution" and said he is the only person who can "convey the official position of the Government of the Dominican Republic in any matter pertaining to this country." Mr. Saladin held the title of Dominican Ambassador to the United States until May of last year.

Despite the difference in their titles, it is clear Mr. Saladin is indeed an official ambassador of the Dominican Republic and America is one of the 35 member states of the Organization of American States. Mr. Saladin's offices are in the Dominican embassy in Washington, D.C. and his letter was written on official stationery.

Read Mr. de Castro's email to The Politicker and and Mr. Saladin's letter to Governor Cuomo below.

Mr. de Castro's email:

“Your post of 27 February entitled “Dominican Ambassador Calls On Cuomo To Support Latino Congressional District” incorrectly identifies Mr. Roberto Saladín as Dominican Ambassador to the United States since 2009. Having assumed to post of Dominican Ambassador to the United States in July 2011, it is solely my duty to convey the official position of the Government of the Dominican Republic in any matter pertaining to this country.

I would like to categorically state that the Dominican Republic views the electoral affairs of the United States, including redistricting issues, as internal and sovereign concerns. While it is true that the Dominican people would be pleased and proud if the valuable contribution of Americans of Dominican descent were celebrated through the election of one of their representatives to Congress, we respect the absolute right of the competent authorities in the United States to handle the enfranchisement of its citizens in different jurisdictions without external interference.

I look forward to your confirmation that this false attribution will be rectified at the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Aníbal de Castro
Ambassador”

Mr. Saladin's letter:

Hugo Chavez (Getty)

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez thinks the American government may be behind his battle with cancer. President Chavez made his remarks during a year-end address to troops yesterday, one day after Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. In recent years, several leftist Latin American leaders have been diagnosed with cancer including Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Paraguay's Fernando Lugo, and the former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. President Chavez was treated for a cancerous tumor in June.

"Would it be so strange that they've invented the technology to spread cancer and we won't know about it for 50 years?" Chavez asked. "It is very hard to explain, even with the law of probabilities, what has been happening to some leaders in Latin America. It's at the very least strange, very strange."

President Chavez began to suspect an American cancer plot after he received a warning from Fidel Castro.

"Fidel always told me, 'Chavez take care. These people have developed technology. You are very careless. Take care what you eat, what they give you to eat … a little needle and they inject you with I don't know what,'" he said.

President Chavez has held the Venezuelan presidency since 1999. In the decade and change since, he's had a tense relationship with the United States. In 2002, he accused the U.S. government of being behind a coup that briefly ousted him from power. He regularly uses his public appearances to criticize and insult American leaders.

"I repeat: I am not accusing anyone. I am simply taking advantage of my freedom to reflect and air my opinions faced with some very strange and hard to explain goings-on," President Chavez said yesterday. "I think they have to be preparing something ... I'm afraid to go with our airplane to the United States."