2006年VOA标准英语-Pakistan Reacts Sharply to Rice Comments

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
29 June 2006

Pakistan has reacted sharply to comments U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made about coming elections, saying the country does not need advice on its democratic process from outsiders.

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Senior Cabinet minister Tariq Azeem tells VOA that Pakistan is committed to holding free and fair elections in 2007, but says it does not need outside advice on the democratic process. 

Condoleezza Rice, (l), shakes hands with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad, June 27, 2006  
  
He was referring to comments made by Secretary Rice after her meeting with Pakistani leaders earlier this week, when she said the world expects democratic, free and fair elections in Pakistan in 2007.

Minister Azeem says such statements amount to interference in the country's internal affairs and could undermine bilateral¹ relations.

"The elections will happen in 2007," he said. "They will be transparent². They will be free and fair elections. We have got an excellent relationship with the United States but when other people come and tell us what to do, it does hurt us sometimes."

Pakistani officials say Secretary Rice did not discuss elections when she met with President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad. But in her news conference afterwards, the top U.S diplomat³ reiterated⁴ the importance the international community attaches to the process of free and fair elections next year.

"The expectation is that Pakistan is going to take that step on the road to democracy, that it is not just a matter of election day, it is a matter of access to press, it is a matter of access to be able to assemble and to campaign. We have been very clear about all of that," Rice said.

President Musharraf is a close U.S. ally in the war against terrorism, and bilateral relations have improved in recent years.  The Pakistani leader seized power in a bloodless military coup⁵ in 1999, and has held national and regional elections since then to return Pakistan to democratic rule.

Parliament, which is dominated by pro-Musharraf lawmakers, has approved his democratic reforms, and allowed him to remain president as well as chief of Pakistan's powerful military until the end of 2007.

The parliamentary elections for the national and four provincial⁶ assemblies are due next year, when President Musharraf's five-year term also expires. But the leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League have given strong indications in recent days that the existing parliament will re-elect Musharraf for another five-year term before the next elections. These statements have outraged⁷ opposition⁸ parties and constitutional experts in Pakistan, who are warning that such a move will block efforts to hold free and fair elections next year. The opposition parties are currently negotiating on broadening the anti-Musharraf alliance to force the military ruler to step down before the next polls

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

3 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

4 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

5 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

6 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

7 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

8 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。