President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernandez knew what his crowd wanted when he spoke to a packed ARCO Forum at the Institute of Politics Friday afternoon.

Baseball.

Fernandez could barely get out the words, "There is a young man in a Red Sox uniform named Pedro Martinez," before applause from about 300 people drowned him out.

And he went on to boast of his country's status as the largest exporter of major league baseball players to the United States, pointing out that more than 70 or so professional baseball players from the Caribbean nation play in this country.

But then Fernandez switched gears and spoke of the Dominican Republic's complicated political history, from the 15th century when it was the first colony in the New World to its current incarnation under his leadership.

"The country has been transitioning economically, culturally and socially," Fernandez said of the switch from a sugar-dependent economy to one based on tourism and telecommunications.

He went on to outline the three goals he set when he was elected to office in 1996.

"We must achieve democratic consolidation, continue to sustain economic growth and we must implement social reform," Fernandez said.

Fernandez said the Dominican Republic has improved in many areas, allowing his administration to come closer to its aims.