2007年VOA标准英语-French President Nicolas Sarkozy Visits Senegal

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
26 July 2007

France's newly elected president, Nicolas Sarkozy, is visiting Senegal Thursday. It is his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president. Mr. Sarkozy was widely criticized during his campaign for controversial statements about Africa and immigration. But Senegalese analysts¹ say they hope the visit signals Mr. Sarkozy's appreciation² for the important relationship between France and Africa. Naomi Schwarz has more from Dakar.

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade wave from an open car during a motorcade through Dakar, 26 July 2007

Watchful⁴ eyes and ears will be directed towards President Sarkozy as he makes his first state visit to Senegal.

Moubarak Lo, an independent economist⁵, says it is good news for Senegal that Mr. Sarkozy is visiting early in his presidency⁶. But he says he is waiting to see what Mr. Sarkozy says once he arrives.

"What is sure is a new kind of relationship is indispensable. So if Sarkozy does not indicate there are changes, the people will ask for the change. So it is a very important day for the African-French relationship," said Lo.

Mr. Sarkozy arrives in Senegal after a brief stop in Libya. His stay in Senegal will also be brief. He will spend fewer than 24 hours here, during which he will sign an investment agreement with Senegal's president, Abdoulaye Wade, and give a speech at the main university to prominent members of the Senegalese community.

Lo says he hopes France, which has long been Senegal's biggest investor⁷, will recognize that a developing Africa needs to cultivate strong relationships with other countries as well.

"The new partnership⁸ is for Africa to have a good relationship with the French, but also to open its door to all the partners: Americans, Asians, all should come with open hands and work with Africa," he said.

Many Africans are wary⁹ of Mr. Sarkozy because of the hard line he took on immigration during his campaign for president, as well as during his earlier years in government. As interior minister, he supported forcibly repatriating¹⁰ illegal immigrants. During his campaign he proposed a ministry¹¹ of immigration to teach French values to immigrants, a proposal that was widely criticized. He also said he would support revising France's immigration policy to favor well-educated professionals over unskilled workers.

 

Prominent Senegalese human rights activist¹² Alioune Tine says this is a mistake.

"I think that in closing his frontier to African youth is not a very good sign of cooperation between France and African countries," he said. "I think that we need very open cooperation about jobs, about all the opportunities, resources, jobs."

Immigration is a key issue in Africa, where many rely on money sent back home by immigrants - legal and illegal - working overseas.

Tine says he thinks Mr. Sarkozy's stance is becoming more moderate, now he has won the election.

"Being president of France, I think that in the issue of cultural diversity, the actions of Sarkozy is the strongest than any other action of other president of France. I think that it was a very good message for Africa," said Tine.

He points to Mr. Sarkozy's appointment of ministers from diverse backgrounds, including from North Africa and Senegal.

"Previously¹³, I think that many of these minorities were not present in France's government," he said.

Senegalese activists¹⁴ and analysts also say they hope Mr. Sarkozy will make Franco-African cooperation dependent on good governance in African countries.

Mr. Sarkozy flies to Gabon on Friday for the third and final leg of his African tour.

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

3 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

4 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

5 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

6 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

7 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

8 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

9 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

10 repatriating   

v.把（某人）遣送回国，遣返( repatriate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Since banks are reducing overall lending, that means repatriating cash. 由于银行总的借贷额在下降，这就意味着资金必然国内回流。 来自互联网
• US immigration officials have again delayed moves start repatriating six-year-old Cuban shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez. 六岁的古巴海难幸存儿童埃利安非常幸运，美国移民局官员已将原本要遣返他的时间再次拖延。 来自互联网

11 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

12 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

13 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

14 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》