Secretary of State John Kerry listens as Haitian President Michel Martelly speaks prior to their meeting at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. President Barack Obama will host Haitian President Michel Martelly for talks on Haiti’s economic and political future on Feb. 6, at the White House. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is hosting Haitian President Michel Martelly for talks on Haiti’s economic and political future.
Martelly will be at the White House on Thursday, a day after he met with Secretary of State John Kerry. It’s the first official sit-down between Obama and Martelly.
The White House says Obama will discuss creating conditions for Haiti’s long-term growth. Haiti recently marked the fourth anniversary of a massive 2010 earthquake that killed more than 300,000.
White House spokesman Jonathan Lalley says the U.S. wants to see free, fair elections to promote Haiti’s political stability. Legislative and local elections in Haiti are more than two years overdue.
The U.S. and other nations have provided aid to restore Haiti’s economy, infrastructure and public health in the wake of the earthquake.