VOA标准英语2012--Clinton, Ouattara Discuss Ivory Coast Reconciliation

Clinton, Ouattara Discuss Ivory Coast Reconciliation¹

Clinton and Ouattara met at Abidjan's presidential palace for talks meant to underscore the Obama administration's commitment to democratic governance in Ivory Coast.
This first visit by a U.S. secretary of state in more than 25 years comes as Ouattara works to bring the country together following violence that last year toppled former president Laurent Gbagbo when he refused to recognize Ouattara's election.
With Gbagbo facing charges at the International Criminal Court, Ouattara says he is committed to bringing to justice everyone responsible for electoral violence - even if they fought for him.
President Ouattara says he reassured² Secretary Clinton of his commitment to work toward equal justice, without discrimination. There is an national inquiry³ in place to investigate all crimes committed during the electoral crisis including crimes in the west and in Abidjan. He says Ivory Coast wants to be a country of rights.
Clinton says that is the only way to bring about reconciliation in Ivory Coast.
“We think that all Ivorians need to see that the rule of law is working, and that there is impartial⁴ justice, a transparent⁵ system to ensure that all atrocities⁶ are fully⁷ investigated, and that the perpetrators, regardless of which side they supported, are held to account,” she stated.
Clinton says in the past year, the Obama administration has committed about $44 million to help Ivory Coast strengthen its justice sector⁸ and democratic governance. Ivorians say they hope her visit will help boost investments by U.S. firms, including the agricultural giants Archer⁹ Daniels Midlands and Cargill.
University student Sekou Toure says Clinton's stop in Abidjan is another strong signal that Ivory Coast is back in business.
Toure says Ivorians know that Americans supported President Ouattara during the political crisis. So it's normal that after the crisis Secretary Clinton comes to see how life is going on and if President Ouattara is following democracy.
Clinton says she is working with Ouattara to open the eyes of American investors¹⁰ to what is possible in Ivory Coast.
“We very much want to send a clear message to American businesses that Cote d'Ivoire is open for business, that there are investment opportunities, there are people looking for work who are ready to go to work. There are many ways that American business can invest with, trade with, and create opportunities right here," she said.
Clinton says she is inspired by how quickly Ivorians have moved from violence to a commitment to build a better future. She spoke¹¹ of the vast potential of West Africa and says Ivory Coast must again be at the center of the region's economic growth.
Secretary Clinton began this visit to West Africa in Liberia where she attended President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's inauguration¹², praising the Nobel Peace Prize winner's moves to reach out to her political opponents.

1 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。

2 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

5 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

6 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

10 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。