奧巴馬將會見突尼斯總統埃塞卜西

House Thursday with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi to help underscore Washington's support for the country's democratic transition.

President Essebsi came to power following historic elections in December.

U.S. officials say the presidents will discuss increasing U.S. military and economic aid to Tunisia, which is dealing with massive youth unemployment and the threat of regional instability.

Long-time president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted by democratic protests in 2011 that inspired the Arab Spring uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East.

The country has since held several successful elections, and despite bouts of violence, the country's secular and Islamist parties have largely avoided the turmoil that spread through other Arab Spring countries.美國總統奧巴馬星期四將在白宮會見突尼斯總統埃塞卜西，以此強調華盛頓支持突尼斯實行民主過渡。

突尼斯去年12月舉行具有歷史意義的選舉後，埃塞卜西就任總統。

美國官員說，兩位總統將討論增加美國對突尼斯的軍事及經濟援助。目前突尼斯正在應對大批年輕人失業以及地區動亂威脅等問題。

在2011年爆發的民主抗議活動中，長期執政的突尼斯總統本·阿里被趕下臺。突尼斯的民主運動在北非和中東引發了阿拉伯之春運動。

此後，突尼斯舉行了幾次成功的選舉，儘管發生了暴力事件，突尼斯的世俗黨派和伊斯蘭政黨基本上避免了其他阿拉伯之春國家所經歷的動亂。