VOA标准英语2010年-Southern African Ministers Prepare Rep

Southern African ministers are meeting in Mozambique to prepare for next month's summit of the African Union.  Madagascar,  Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo are major topics of discussion.

Foreign ministers of the Southern African Development Community met in Maputo to prepare a report on the region's political crises.  It is to be presented to African leaders at their upcoming summit in Ethiopia.

SADC's Political and Diplomatic Committee has been mediating² three major crises in the region.

SADC officials said the ministers are pleased the various parties to the unity¹ government in Zimbabwe resumed negotiations³ on implementing⁴ their power-sharing agreement.  They said they believed Zimbabwe was on the right path.

The officials said the ministers also believe that progress is being made toward easing the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and that reconciliation⁵ efforts between the government and various rebel groups were on the right track.

 Andry Rajoelina (file photo)

But the officials said they were less optimistic about the political crisis in Madagascar.  It erupted in March after Andry Rajoelina, backed by the military, seized power following the ouster of then-President Marc Ravalomanana.

SADC and the African Union do not recognize the Rajoelina government and have suspended Madagascar from their organizations.

Negotiations mediated⁶ by SADC brought a power-sharing agreement last year between Rajoelina, Mr. Ravalomanana and two other former presidents.  But Rajoelina boycotted⁷ a meeting in December to distribute cabinet posts and withdrew from the accord.

He subsequently appointed a retired⁸ military officer as prime minister and said he would organize elections in March.

The opposition⁹ rejected the move and resumed its demonstrations¹⁰ in the capital.  The government says it will arrest anyone who provokes what it called, "further unrest."

Western nations have suspended most non-humanitarian aid to Madagascar, and the United States has canceled tax exemptions¹¹ on Malagasy imports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act known as AGOA.

Madagascar Minister of Economy and Industry Richard Fienena has reacted to the cancellation¹² saying it had caused the loss of many jobs.

He says the government will have to find a solution, in particular, for workers who will suffer the consequences of the break with AGOA.

The African Union says AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping is to visit Madagascar in two weeks to try to break the deadlock¹³.  It made the announcement after a meeting Wednesday in Addis Ababa of the International Contact Group on Madagascar.

The group includes the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, France, the Indian Ocean Commission, the International Francophone Organization, and the United States.

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

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 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

5 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

6 mediated   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的过去式和过去分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• He mediated in the quarrel between the two boys. 他调解两个孩子之间的争吵。
• The government mediated between the workers and the employers. 政府在工人与雇主间搞调和。

7 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 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。

10 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

11 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

12 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

13 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。