2007年VOA标准英语-Ukraine's President Seeks to Revise Constitutio

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
25 August 2007

Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko, says he wants to change the constitution in a bid to restore his presidential powers. The announcement comes as the country prepares for elections in September aimed at ending a power struggle between him and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. Stefan Bos reports for VOA from Budapest.  

President Viktor Yushchenko during Ukraine's Independence Day anniversary in front of St. Sofia Cathedral in Kyiv, 24 Aug 2007

President Yushchenko announced plans to revise the constitution at a ceremony marking the 16th anniversary of Ukraine's declaration of independence from the former Soviet¹ Union.

Speaking in front of Kyiv's Saint Sofia Cathedral, he said the changes could be introduced after an election on September 30.

Parliament three years ago adopted legislation transferring significant powers from the president to the prime minister. This led to a stalemate between Mr. Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

The two sides agreed to hold the September 30 election in a bid to resolve the impasse².
 
Mr. Yushchenko says changes are needed in the constitution to restore his presidential powers and end the deadlock³ with Mr. Yanukovich, who favors closer ties with Russia.

The president says he hopes his actions will boost efforts to introduce Western-style reforms, including closer ties with NATO and the European Union, as well as bring an end to what he sees as high-level corruption⁵.

"Political experiments led to an avalanche⁶ of corruption and the destruction of the minds of this and much younger generations," said Mr. Yushchenko.  "This year's early election is my very straight forward reaction on a plot against Ukraine launched by corrupt⁴ politicians. I know how to make order in our Ukrainian house.  We are starting the renewal⁷ of the constitution, and I am calling for the convening⁸ of a constitutional council that will start to write down the draft of a new constitution."

The president said the revisions will be presented to citizens for approval in a nationwide referendum.

The September 30 elections for parliament mark the fourth time in less than three years that Ukrainians will be voting in a national election.  Polls show Prime Minister Yanukovich's Regions Party slightly ahead of parties allied⁹ with President Yushchenko.

1 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

2 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

3 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

4 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 avalanche   

n.雪崩，大量涌来

参考例句：

• They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
• Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。

7 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

8 convening   

召开( convene的现在分词 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. 民10:7但招聚会众的时候、们要吹号、不要吹出大声。
• We warmly welcome the convening of Asia-Europe meeting in London. 热烈欢迎亚欧会议在伦敦召开。

9 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。