VOA标准英语2010年-New AU Chief Sets Political Stability,

"We must declare war on unconstitutional change of government on African soil." - African Union Chairman Bingu wa Mutharika.

The newly-elected African Union Chairman, Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has pledged to make political stability a priority on a continent troubled by coups² and conflicts. Mr. Mutharika set an ambitious agenda at the start of his one-year term as AU chief.

In a closing address to the summit that elected him chairman,  the 75-year-old Malawian leader said it is time for Africa to put a stop to the recent trend toward unconstitutional power grabs.
 
"We must declare war on unconstitutional change of government on African soil and resolve to take strong and necessary measures against all authors of coups, coup¹ d'etats and those that provide them the means to unseat constitutionally elected government," he said.

Mr. Mutharika expressed satisfaction with what he called "the return to constitutional order in Mauritania and Guinea Bissau over the past year. He also noted³ positive changes in Guinea. But he said his year in office would focus on other trouble spots he called "intractable".

"We should remain seized of the outstanding challenges in Madagascar, Somalia and Darfur. We should remain steadfast⁴ in the use of all means at our disposal to resolve what seem to be intractable situations," he said.

Mr. Mutharika, a former World Bank economist⁵, said he would insist on urgent steps to improve Africa's food security and energy generation capacity.

"I'm still determined⁶ as chairman of the African Union, to put measures together to ensure that within five years, no child in Africa should die of hunger and malnutrition," said Mutharika.

Libyan leader, Muammar Gadhafi, arrives at the UN Conference Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on 31 Jan 2010

The outgoing AU chief, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi used his farewell speech Sunday to question the organization's competence⁷. He accused it of doing little more than passing resolutions and declarations, and said if he had known in advance how little power the chairman has, he would have refused the job.

Mr. Mutharika said it is time to change that image.

"May I reiterate⁸ the need for our organization to go beyond making decisions, declarations and resolutions. We need to take action now," he said.

Mr. Mutharika is the 4th democratically-elected head of state to hold the AU chairmanship in the past five years, helping⁹ burnish¹⁰ the organization's reputation for promoting democratic ideals. Only Libyan leader Gadhafi broke the string. He came to power in a military coup 40 years ago.

Speaking to reporters after the summit, Mr. Mutharika said he would oppose any move to limit the chairmanship to only constitutionally-elected heads of states. He suggested the AU policy of strict opposition¹¹ to unconstitutional power grabs would eventually eliminate despots and dictators from the continent.

"There's no agenda where we insist that someone must necessarily be democratically elected in their country. But I think you know we are against the takeover of government through unconstitutional means. We are against coup d'etats. So by definition those who will be elected head of the African Union will definitely be democratically elected," he explained.

Before closing the summit, the Malawian leader announced a postponement¹² of the next continental¹³ gathering¹⁴. By tradition, the twice yearly summits are held the first days of February and July.

But this year, the first ten days of July will be consumed by soccer madness, as South Africa hosts the final World Cup matches. So the summit has been rescheduled for July 25-27 in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

 

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 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

3 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。

4 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

5 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

8 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 burnish   

v.磨光；使光滑

参考例句：

• Many people,fearful for their jobs,are trying to burnish their contacts at other firms.许多人因为担心自己的工作，正在努力抹去和其他公司接触的痕迹。
• I burnish joyful sparks from my sorrows.我从伤痛里擦亮喜悦的火花。

11 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。

12 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

13 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。

14 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。