VOA常速英语2008年-Negotiators Say Kenyan Political Talks Making P

By Scott Bobb
Nairobi
08 February 2008

 

In Kenya, government and opposition¹ negotiators have wrapped up a week of talks saying progress has been made toward resolving the crisis over December's elections. However, chief negotiator Kofi Annan says details still need to be worked out. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from Nairobi.

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who is mediating² the Kenya talks, said Friday that the government and opposition have agreed that a negotiated agreement is needed to end the crisis that has killed 1,000 people and displaced 300,000 across the country.

"We are all agreed that a political settlement is needed, that a political settlement is necessary and we are now in the process of discussing the deals, working out the terms of that settlement," Annan said.

He said Friday's session was very good and he hoped to announce a deal next week.

Annan made the remark after meeting President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga during which he said appealed to both leaders to support their negotiators and encourage a settlement. He also suggested parliament be convened³ to discuss the crisis.

Considerable progress has been reported since the talks began one week ago. But a government negotiator, Parliament Member Mutula Kilonzo, told VOA that several major obstacles remain.

"We are making extremely good progress," said Kilonzo. "The three issues are being discussed. They have probably in fact, let me say, been narrowed to one now. So that should tell you."

Kenya was wracked by a wave of violence after the opposition Orange Democratic Movement party accused the government of rigging the December vote in order to give President Mwai Kibaki a second term.

The talks, which began one week ago, stalled over the opposition's demand that Mr. Kibaki resign. But opposition leader Raila Odinga Thursday indicated a new flexibility⁴ over this point.

"But we say that we are not static on that point. We are willing to move, we are willing to yield some ground so that an acceptable solution can be found," he said.

The opposition also reportedly wants an all-party interim⁵ government to be sworn in until a new presidential poll can be held. The Kibaki team reportedly rejected these demands.

Among the diplomatic delegations⁶ seeking to encourage a political solution, the European Union's Development Commissioner⁷, Louis Michel, expressed optimism over the talks after meetings with Odinga and Mr. Kibaki.

"There is now a mood and conditions to negotiate a good and balanced agreement. The international community and the European Commission and the European Union, we are very concerned about the situation in this country," said Michel.

Foreign Ministers from the IGAD block of East African nations Friday concluded a two-day visit expressing regional support for the talks.

And the United Nations Security Council issued a statement urging the government without delay to dismantle⁸ armed gangs, improve the humanitarian⁹ situation and restore human rights.

The United States Thursday announced a ban on five Kenyan politicians and five businessmen allegedly involved in the violence. Canada also announced a ban on leaders who in its words "disrupt the democratic process." And the United Kingdom has threatened similar sanctions.

Kenyan officials Friday rejected the sanctions.

1 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。

2 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。

3 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

4 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

5 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

6 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

9 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。