Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – In a formal, nationally televised ceremony hosted at the National Palace, President Luis Abinader has conferred the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella in the prestigious Grand Cross Silver Plaque grade on former Foreign Minister and Ambassador Emeritus Roberto Álvarez, marking a formal tribute to his 30-plus years of dedicated public and diplomatic service to the Dominican Republic.
Addressing attendees at the event, President Abinader underscored that Álvarez’s six-year tenure leading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2020 to 2026 drove unprecedented progress in elevating the Dominican Republic’s global standing, cementing bilateral and multilateral partnerships, and laying the groundwork for a fully professionalized, career-focused foreign service corps. The head of state emphasized that Álvarez’s leadership turned the Dominican diplomatic corps into a more agile, representative body that advances national interests on every global stage.
Current Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó formally read the full text of Decree No. 646-26, which codifies the state honor and explicitly cites Álvarez’s unwavering work to defend Dominican national sovereignty, advocate for democratic governance and universal human rights across the Latin American and Caribbean region, and expand the country’s network of constructive international alliances. The official decree further recognizes the sweeping institutional reforms rolled out under Álvarez’s leadership, which modernized the operations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, streamlined bureaucratic structures, and raised standards for efficiency, public transparency, and ongoing professional training for all diplomatic and consular staff posted at home and abroad.
In his acceptance remarks, Álvarez expressed deep gratitude to President Abinader for his consistent support throughout his time in office, and highlighted one of his administration’s highest-stakes diplomatic priorities: the sustained advocacy at the United Nations Security Council to rally global support for a specialized international security deployment to Haiti. He issued a renewed call to all nations that had committed to participating in the multinational security mission to move forward with full deployment and deliver the critical resources required to restore public safety and rebuild functional state institutions in the crisis-hit neighboring nation. Álvarez also reaffirmed his longstanding commitment to a Dominican foreign policy rooted in non-negotiable national sovereignty, democratic norms, human rights protections, and adherence to international law, noting that his tenure delivered tangible quality-of-life improvements for all diplomatic personnel, including adjusted salary scales, expanded full medical coverage, and structured, fair rotation programs for overseas postings.
The ceremony concluded with a special career tribute delivered by veteran journalist and fellow diplomat Aníbal de Castro, who detailed Álvarez’s decades of prior impactful work with the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and praised his lifelong reputation for integrity and selfless commitment to public service. The full event was attended by senior government officials, active and retired diplomatic corps members, Álvarez’s family, and representatives of international missions based in Santo Domingo.