2006年VOA标准英语-Sarkozy Defends Draft Immigration Law Duri

By Nico Colombant in Abidjan
Agathe Diama in Bamako
18 May 2006

French interior minister and 2007 presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy has defended a new draft law on immigration while on a visit to Mali. The trip comes just after France's lower house passed the bill, making Sarkozy a target for protesters. VOA's Nico Colombant has more from our West Africa bureau in Abidjan with reporting by Agathe Diama in Bamako.

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Nicolas Sarkozy    
  

Sarkozy said there was nothing racist¹ or xenophobic about the draft law that promotes, among other things, selective immigration of skilled labor². The law would also make it more difficult for migrants to have their families join them in France.

In Bamako, Sarkozy said the text was reasonable and that there were no alternatives.

Before the trip, the proposed law had provoked outrage³ from outspoken⁴ Africans.
 
 
Abdoulaye Wade⁵ (file photo) 
  
Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade said it would encourage a brain drain and that he would send a bill to France for stealing educated Africans. Ivorian singer Alpha Blondy said the new law smelled like slavery.

Mali President Amadou Toumani Toure said, with a hint of sarcasm⁶, he would honor Sarkozy's visit because he was "not a selective host."

Other residents of Bamako staged a sit-in at the French embassy.

This man said stop the expulsions. "Stop the charter, the planes, and give papers to all," he said.

Illegal immigrants in France are often flown back to their home countries in handcuffs on commercial planes, drawing criticism from human rights activists⁷.

Protesters hold a meeting in front of French embassy in Bamako, 18 May 2006    
  
Another protester said French officials should not forget that Africans have done so much to help France, through colonial times, wars, and economic expansion.

One of the organizers said France, which calls itself the land of human rights and freedom, should respect proud humans like Malians who are forced to exile to richer countries to feed their families.

Some protesters said Sarkozy was provoking them and that there was no coincidence about the timing⁸ of his visit.

Immigration and the difficulty of some immigrants to integrate into French society has been a hot topic in French politics, capitalized by extreme right parties.

Sarkozy has been in the French media spotlight⁹ in recent years, timing visits to troubled areas when attention can be maximized. Immigration policy is part of Sarkozy's current portfolio¹⁰ as Interior Minister.

There are nearly 50,000 registered Malian immigrants in France, and about the same number who have no legal status.

The immigrants, both legal and illegal, send home more than $200 million a year, making them an important part of Mali's economy.

1 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

4 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

5 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

6 sarcasm   

n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic）

参考例句：

• His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
• She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

10 portfolio   

n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位

参考例句：

• He remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio.他因为她带着一个大公文包而记住了她。
• He resigned his portfolio.他辞去了大臣职务。