Interview with H.E. Mr. JOSÉ TOMÁS PÉREZ
Your Excellency, could you please tell us a bit more about the daily life of an ambassador?
My routine begins by arriving early at the Embassy where I immediately start working on official affairs, issues related to the administrative and diplomatic work of the embassy. I read emails and the correspondence of the day and I often meet with the managers of the different sections to evaluate its operation.
During the week, and I mean in previous times of course, not now in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, I used to attend meetings with other ambassadors, visit the State Department and Congress, and other institutions, both government and private agencies.
I also attend receptions and important celebrations, especially related to the national dates of brother countries. The Washington diplomatic life is always very active and the agenda is usually full of activities.
You have been serving as an ambassador to the USA since February of 2015. This is your first mandate as an ambassador. Can you look behind and highlight key achievements of your team and you?
It has been a great professional and personal experience to have served as an ambassador for the past 5 years. My achievements are vast and diverse. I have tried to give a great boost to our relations with the United States, and I think we have achieved important things in this regard. Today we have the satisfaction of having worked on important issues such as those related to free trade (DR-CAFTA), free zones, investments and trade between both countries, educational and academic affairs, cultural promotion, and continuous work in favor of the Dominican community that lives in the USA.
What is the biggest challenge of being an ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the USA?
The main challenge I have had as an ambassador was to keep the DR's relations with the US intact during the process of diplomatic rapprochement with the People's Republic of China. It was evident that the US did not like the Dominican government's decision to establish diplomatic relations with China and break long-standing relations with Taiwan. As a country, for us it was also very painful because the ties with Taiwan were very strong and very effective. But our economy needed to take that step to expand its markets and open up to the opportunities that the Asian giant offered us. And so we did.
How does your knowledge of psychology afford you an advantage in diplomacy?
My career as a psychologist has given me a better and deeper understanding of human behavior in general. As a diplomat, I think the assertiveness and levels of empathy you have to develop to be effective in this environment, a lot of it, does come from my background.
Today we have the satisfaction of having worked on important issues such as those related to free trade (DR-CAFTA), free zones, investments and trade between both countries, educational and academic affairs, cultural promotion, and continuous work in favor of the Dominican community that lives in the USA.
What makes His Excellency Mr. Tomas Perez unique in contributing to the image of his country around the world?
My long political experience, and having been a senior senator and very high state official has helped me focus on things that are truly relevant to my country. As ambassador many and varied tasks are performed. The state experience becomes a great asset in your favor in the performance of your duties and in the way you relate to others.
Let’s, for a moment, take on a role of a great PR. How would you present Dominican Republic in a few sentences?
As the slogan says "Dominican Republic has it all". We have large ports, a complex of free zones well connected to the American market, we have 80,000 hotel rooms with the best beaches in the world, an enviable communication infrastructure, we are a noble and hard-working people, as a country, we also have a long and interesting story to tell: we were the starting point for conquering America, we built the first university in the new world, the first cathedral, the first judicial court. We have it all!
What has been the biggest challenge in writing a novel? Why did you decide to write?
The biggest challenge in writing a novel is finding a story that is interesting. The rest is to sit down to write it in a way that is credible and attractive to the reader. What distinguishes literary language from common, scientific or journalistic language is that it has no limits in space and time. The way words are used, the construction of dialogues and creativity without barriers, makes literature a genre with its own personality.
What inspired you to write La Gente Detrás del Muro?
Many years ago I wanted to sit down to write a story that reflected the nature of Dominican people and in general of Latin Americans. I started writing from a very young age. I wrote poetry and stories. But I never risked writing novels because it is a difficult and laborious genre. My intense political activity never gave me the time and spiritual space to sit down to write. “The People Behind the Wall” was inspired by the accumulation of experience that I had in politics and in my relationship with the citizens.
And that's what it is about: a history of our culture, our problems, our sufferings and our economic and social precariousness. Latin Americans who have read this novel, have seen in it the mirror of their realities.
What's the message of your latest book La Sombra de la Muerte?
The message that I wanted to convey in my other novel "The Shadow of Death", is to try to illustrate how the forces of destiny are guiding men in a world where things happen regardless of their will. The man says that he is master of his own destiny, but destiny is, in the end, who controls him and defines the future of his life.
The novel is inspired by a real life story. However, its characters, the scenarios and an important part of its content are absolutely fictional.
The biggest challenge in writing a novel is finding a story that is interesting. The rest is to sit down to write it in a way that is credible and attractive to the reader.
What person, book or event has greatly influenced your approach as a diplomat?
I cannot mention a specific person or a book that influenced my life as a diplomat. I am not a career diplomat. It was a mission that arose unexpectedly, at the request of my long-time friend, President Danilo Medina. After five years as an ambassador, I think the experience has been worthwhile because it gave me an opportunity to serve my country and work in a practical way to strengthen the ties that unite the Dominican Republic and the United States.
How do you think new technologies and innovation can be leveraged in diplomacy?
Technology has definitely revolutionized everything. And diplomacy is not outside its influence. As a result of the COVID 19 crisis, we have witnessed the great changes that are taking place and that are going to undoubtedly influence the way we do our jobs and relate to people and institutions. I think that the appearance of the COVID 19 marks a before and after in labor practice around the world and in all areas.
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