President Bush has congratulated incoming Haitian President Rene Preval and says he is looking forward to working with the president-elect.
A National Security Council spokesman, Frederick Jones, says Mr. Bush and Mr. Preval met for about five minutes at the White House Tuesday. Jones says the president reaffirmed U.S. interest in Haiti's democratic and economic development and the U.S. commitment to stay engaged in helping Haitians build their institutions and economy.
The brief meeting took place one day after President-elect Preval spoke to the U.N. Security Council, asking the international community for more long-term aid to boost his impoverished country's economy and promote democracy. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Mr. Preval is scheduled to address the Organization of American States Wednesday, in Washington. Mr. Preval was elected last month and is due to take office in early May.