New Tunisian PM gets White House welcome U.S. President Barack Obama

 

U.S. President Barack Obama

AFP

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Barack Obama was Friday to hold talks with Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi, the first of the new generation of Arab spring leaders to be welcomed to the White House.

Obama was to meet Essebsi at 3:45 pm (1945 GMT) for talks in the prestigious Oval Office, before a brief joint press appearance.

Essebsi's visit comes two weeks before key October 23 elections, the first since the toppling of long-time dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

Ben Ali's ouster in January sparked the so-called Arab Spring and Tunisia will be the first of the countries where popular revolts took place to go to the polls.

"This is a moment of great promise for the Tunisian people, and the president is pleased to welcome the prime minister... to underscore his support for this transition," said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor.

The two leaders were to "exchange views on the historical implications of the Arab Spring, and will discuss regional issues, including Libya," Vietor added.

"The president will also discuss ongoing as well as new U.S. assistance and support to the people of Tunisia."

Last month Obama also met with the new leaders of the transitional government in Libya, following the toppling of long-time leader Muammar Gadhafi, who remains at large.

Obama met Libya's interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, and said the world would stand with the liberated country as it solidifies its freedom.

Essebsi, 84, has led Tunisia since the end of February, after Ben Ali was ousted, in a political upheaval which has triggered similar pro-democracy protests in Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen.

On Tuesday, Essebsi noted that building a democracy in Tunisia was much more difficult than the revolution that overthrew its former strongman.

"We have asked a lot of ourselves in our revolution," he told a World Bank conference in Washington.

"But we know, from experience, that these times of transition are not easy... believe me, the period of transition is very difficult. It is a lot harder than building a state."