So our presidents finally had a sit down.
According to McClatchyDc
President Barack Obama met Thursday with Haitian President Michel Martelly and said he was encouraged by progress on scheduling long-overdue elections in the country. The Oval Office meeting was the first between the two and it came as Martelly faces increasing domestic and international pressure to hold the delayed Senate and municipal elections in the country, still recovering from the devastating January 2010 earthquake. Obama noted improvements since the earthquake – including in Haiti’s economy, security and schools – but said it had been “a very slow and difficult process.”
He said the U.S. remained committed to helping Haiti.
“I think we are all recognizing that we have a lot more work to do,” Obama said. “We want to make sure that all the children of Haiti are able to lead lives of opportunity, prosperity and security.”
Obama said he was pleased with Martelly’s efforts on a new election law that he said would “help resolve some of the political roadblocks that stalled some progress.”
Fifty-three political parties reached an agreement with the Martelly government this week to hold an election this year after the Haitian president agreed to compromise and backed away from a plan that would have forced some senators to end their terms early. Obama said he looked forward to working with Martelly on human rights, judiciary reform and tackling corruption – three issues that remain sticking points for the U.S., which is Haiti’s biggest benefactor. Martelly thanked the United States “for always standing by the Haitian people” and said he looked forward to discussing security, his country’s fight against narcotics trafficking and his “engagement in building a strong democratic state.” ~ Continue Reading Story Here
