VOA标准英语2009年-Madagascar President Prevented from Addres

By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
26 September 2009

 
Andry Rajoelina (file photo)
The U.N. General Assembly annual debate was disrupted late Friday when some African leaders voiced their strong objections to the president of Madagascar making his address. Andry Rajoelina came to power in a military-backed coup¹ last March and his government has been roundly rejected by both the South African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union.

Mr. Rajoelina was supposed to speak on Thursday, but was dropped from the speakers list after objections from SADC.

His name reappeared Friday, but when it was his turn to take the podium, the foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Alexis Mwamba, intervened on the behalf of SADC.

"Mr. President, I am taking the floor on behalf of the Southern African Development Community ... under Article 71 and 113 of the General Assembly rules of procedure, SADC would like to express its protest against the decision to invite Mr. Andry Rajoelina to take the floor at the general debate of our August assembly," he said.

He pointed² out that both SADC and the African Union have decided³ not to recognize the Malagasy government of Mr. Rajoelina that came to power in a coup d'etat and that they support mediation⁴ efforts to return constitutional order to that country. He said as long as it is not reestablished SADC will not recognize the current government.

"If the floor is, however, given to him, we would like to urge all member states to continue to manifest their support for us by standing⁵ and exiting the room. Thank you Mr. President," said Mwamba.

General Assembly President Ali Treki said he was informed Thursday of SADC's objections and said he had been in contact with the U.N.'s legal counsel on the matter.

"There was a representative from the legal counsel who was present at our meeting," he said. "The response of the legal counsel was that the president [of the GA] can defer⁶ giving him the floor, but cannot ban giving him the floor, but cannot prohibit him from being given the floor, because he was invited by the United Nations."

President Treki said he had the power to decide in accordance with the rules of procedure and said Mr. Rajoelina should be given the floor, but that if any state wanted to appeal his decision, they should indicate it immediately and it would be put to a vote.

 
The members of the General Assembly take a vote on Madagascar during the 64th session at United Nations headquarters, 25 Sep 2009
Minister Mwamba called for a vote, but it was wrapped in confusion, as the delegate from Jamaica expressed the frustration⁷ of many of his counterparts.

"I am not sure what it is that we just voted for. And I am totally confused. And many delegations⁹ have not yet voted," he said.

The vote was repeated and after yet more confusion it was decided that there were enough votes to keep Mr. Rajoelina off the podium.

It was not clear whether the vote would be deemed final or whether the Madagascar delegation⁸ would be given a chance to speak Saturday or Monday, when the assembly's annual general debate ends.

1 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。

2 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 defer   

vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从

参考例句：

• We wish to defer our decision until next week.我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
• We will defer to whatever the committee decides.我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

7 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

8 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

9 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