VOA标准英语2010年-Gadhafi Blasts AU as He Steps Down as

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has stepped down as chairman of the 53-nation African Union, but not without firing a few verbal broadsides at the organization.  Mr. Gadhafi chastised¹ his fellow heads of state for refusing to go along with his plan for a "United States of Africa."

All was calm on the surface.  Africa's heads of state went into a conference room and emerged 20 minutes later to say Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutarika would assume the rotating African Union chairmanship for the coming year.  But that announcement hid a furious behind-the-scenes battle for control of the continental² organization that witnesses say nearly broke out in fisticuffs the night before.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had hoped to stay on for a second term to see through his plan for greater political and economic unification.  But after handing over the chairmanship to the Malawian leader, Mr. Gadhafi let loose his wrath³ in a farewell speech, criticizing his colleagues for a lack of political will.  His remarks in Arabic were translated by an AU interpreter.

"I doubt we will be able to shoulder the responsibilities before us," he said.  "I doubt we can achieve something concrete in the future, because frankly⁴ speaking my experience of the African Union, the political elites⁵ of our continent lack political awareness⁶ and hence the political determination."

Mr. Gadhafi called himself 'a soldier of Africa', and said he would continue his crusade to integrate the continent.  He blasted the African Union for wasting time with long-winded speeches, resolutions and declarations while ignoring the changing world around it.

"African political elites are not interested in these changes that are occurring in the map of the world," he added.  "The world is turning into seven or 10 countries and we are not even aware of that.  We have the European Union that is becoming one singe⁷ country and it is done very seriously."

Mr. Gadhafi said if he had known how little power the AU chairman has, he would have refused to take the position.

The newly installed chairman, Malawi's President Mutarika, suggested he agreed with at least some of his predecessor's criticisms.

"The way forward is for the AU Assembly to recognize that Africa is not a poor continent, but the people of Africa are poor," he noted⁸.  "Let us reflect that Europe and the much of the Western world developed using wood, meat and fish from Africa, but Europe and the Western world did not develop through resolutions, and declarations.  They took action - concrete action.  So I appeal to you for action, action and more action."

The opening summit session also heard pleas for urgent attention to the continent's most pressing security challenges, Sudan and Somalia.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who attended a mini-summit on Sudan, said time is of the essence, with elections just three months away, and referenda to determine the future shape of Sudan in just under a year.

"First, we will seek to forge consensus⁹ among member states on the way forward," he said.  "Second, we will continue to strengthen the U.N. presence on the ground.  Third, we will promote discussions on key post-referendum issues.  Fourth, we will build the capacity of South Sudanese institutions."

Mr. Ban also called for greater international support for Somalia's fragile transitional government, but indicated there are no immediate¹⁰ plans to establish a U.N. peacekeeping force in the failed Horn of Africa state.

African countries are instead being asked to contribute more troops to the AU force known as AMISOM.  The force consists of 5,200 Burundian and Ugandan troops backing a beleaguered¹¹ Somali army that has been unable to drive out well-financed insurgents¹² believed to have close ties to al-Qaida.

 

1 chastised   

v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He chastised the team for their lack of commitment. 他指责队伍未竭尽全力。
• The Securities Commission chastised the firm but imposed no fine. 证券委员会严厉批评了那家公司，不过没有处以罚款。 来自辞典例句

2 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

3 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

4 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

5 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 singe   

v.(轻微地)烧焦；烫焦；烤焦

参考例句：

• If the iron is too hot you'll singe that nightdress.如果熨斗过热，你会把睡衣烫焦。
• It is also important to singe knitted cloth to obtain a smooth surface.对针织物进行烧毛处理以获得光洁的表面也是很重要的。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

11 beleaguered   

adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰

参考例句：

• The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign. 那位饱受指责的政党领导人被迫辞职。
• We are beleaguered by problems. 我们被许多困难所困扰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网