VOA标准英语2010年-Pakistan President's Diplomatic Visit

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, right, listens as Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari speaks to the media following talks at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, 6 Aug 2010

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has been visiting Britain for most of this week amid a high-profile diplomatic dispute concerning recent comments by Britain's prime minister linking Pakistan to terrorism.  The Pakistani leader's visit, however, also has a domestic political agenda.

 

The Pakistani prime minister's talks - first in France and then in Britain - have certainly made headlines.  The visit comes amid a highly public diplomatic dispute between Britain and Pakistan, sparked by comments by British Prime Minister David Cameron in which he accused Pakistan of looking the other way when it comes to terrorism.

While Mr. Cameron said he was only speaking frankly¹, Pakistanis were outraged², and President Asif Ali Zardari let it be known he was coming here to speak frankly in return.  In France, Mr. Zardari took a swipe at the West's strategy in Afghanistan, telling French media the war against the Taliban is being lost.

The president's trip and comments also are geared to a domestic audience with an eye on Pakistan's powerful military establishment, said Pakistan expert Farzana Shaikh of London's Chatham House research center.

"I think what's going on here is Mr. Zardari attempting to convey to his constituency back home that the political leadership, as well as the military leadership, is able to convey Pakistan's interests, is able to defend Pakistan's interests as well as anyone else, and certainly the prerogative³ of defending those interests does not lie with the military," said Shaikh.

Shaikh also said the president may hope to enhance his own standing⁴, which is not that strong back home, and that of the political leadership vis-à-vis the military.  It is not an easy task, she said.

"This is going to be a very hard act for him to pursue, particularly when … there is very, very deep hostility⁵ to the United States and to the West more generally in Pakistan," said Shaikh.

President Zardari has been harshly criticized by some within the Pakistani community in Britain, as well as from back home, for taking this trip - especially at a time when Pakistan is experiencing the worst flooding in decades.  Critics say he should have stayed home to help handle the crisis.

South Asia analyst⁶ Gareth Price (Chatham House) says it is a no-win situation for the president.

"To some extent the Pakistani president is criticized no matter what he does," said Price.  "Given David Cameron's statement, if he hadn't come, some voices would have been saying he should go and put the record straight.  But it does seem politically na?ve, I guess, at best."

In addition, Mr. Zardari has been criticized for staying at a family chateau⁷ in France and in luxury hotels in Britain during this trip, while millions back home have been affected⁸ by the flooding.
 

1 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。

2 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

3 prerogative   

n.特权

参考例句：

• It is within his prerogative to do so.他是有权这样做的。
• Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.作这类决定并不是管理者的专有特权。

4 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。

5 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 chateau   

n.城堡，别墅

参考例句：

• The house was modelled on a French chateau.这房子是模仿一座法国大别墅建造的。
• The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn.那府第便径自腾起大火燃烧下去。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。