U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has given a big boost of support to embattled Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf whose Truth and Reconciliation Commission has recommended that she be barred from holding further public office.
美国国务卿希拉里.克林顿给予了处境困难的利比里亚总统瑟利夫极大的支持。利比里亚的真相与和解委员会建议禁止瑟利夫继续担任公职。
Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission says President Sirleaf should be barred from future political office because of her support in the early 1990s for then-rebel-leader Charles Taylor.
利比里亚的真相与和解委员会说，瑟利夫总统应被禁止在未来担任公职，因为她在上个世纪90年代初支持当时的叛乱武装领导人查尔斯.泰勒。
The commission's recommendations do not have the force of law, but legislators who support the move against the president are preparing to introduce those recommendations in the national assembly.
该委员会的建议不具有法律效力，但支持这个建议的议会议员准备在国民大会上提议通过这项建议。
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Sirleaf, Secretary Clinton was asked if her visit here is meant as a show of support for Africa's first elected female president.
克林顿国务卿在会见瑟利夫总统后，记者问她，她此次访问是否意味着对非洲首位当选女总统表示支持。
"Of course it's a sign of support," she said. "We have looked at the entire record that President Sirleaf brings to office, her performance in office, the accomplishments of the government she leads, and we are supportive and will continue to be because we think Liberia is on the right path, as difficult as the path might be."
“当然，这是一种支持的表现。我们看了瑟利夫总统就任以前的所有记录，她就任后的表现，在她领导下政府的政绩，我们对她表示支持，也将继续支持她，因为我们认为利比里亚的前进道路是正确的，尽管这条道路可能艰难曲折。”
Secretary Clinton says the Obama administration will continue to back Liberian efforts to reduce corruption and improve the electoral process ahead of the next national elections in 2011.
克林顿说，对于利比里亚在2011年全国大选之前为减少腐败和改善选举过程而进行的努力，奥巴马政府将继续支持。
President Sirleaf says Liberians are grateful for the partnership and deep friendship between the countries and appreciate Secretary Clinton's support.
瑟利夫总统说，利比里亚人民对两国的伙伴关系以及深厚友谊非常感激，并感谢克林顿国务卿的支持。
"We look forward to continuing to carry out our part of the bargain - to move Liberia forward, open society, democracy, accountability, transparency, developing our country through the proper use of our natural resources," said Ms. Sirleaf. "And we also look forward to her support, and the United States support of our endeavor."
“我们期待着继续履行我们在双方谈判中的承诺，那就是带领利比里亚向前发展，开放社会，实行民主，加强责任制，提高透明度，通过正当利用我们的自然资源来发展我们的国家。我们也期待着克林顿国务卿和美国继续支持我们的努力。”
President Sirleaf's early support for then-rebel-leader Taylor was not unusual. Most civil society groups and opponents of then-President Samuel Doe backed the Taylor rebellion at its start and, like President Sirleaf, distanced themselves from his National Patriotic Front when civilian atrocities mounted.
瑟利夫总统早期对叛乱武装领导人泰勒的支持并非少见。大部分民间社会团体和当时总统多伊的反对者开始都曾支持过泰勒的叛乱活动，之后就像瑟利夫总统一样，当泰勒对平民的暴行升级之后，他们就远离了泰勒的全国爱国阵线。
Both women were asked repeatedly about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations. Neither responded directly. Secretary Clinton says she believes the Liberian leader should be judged on what she has accomplished.
记者们一再追问克林顿和瑟利夫有关真相与和解委员会的建议，两人都没有作直接回答。克林顿说，她认为人们应该以瑟利夫的政绩来评价她。
"I look at what President Sirleaf has done in the past three years, and I see a very accomplished leader dedicated to the betterment of the Liberian people, who has been consistent in her leadership on behalf of solving the problems that Liberia faces so that Liberians can have a peaceful future with prosperity and opportunity," said Clinton.
“我看了瑟利夫总统过去三年的政绩，我认为她是一个卓有成就的领导人，她致力于为利比里亚人民谋福祉，一贯坚持以解决利比里亚所面临的问题为领导方针，让利比里亚人民能拥有充满繁荣和机会的和平未来。”
This is the sixth stop on an Africa trip that has already taken Secretary Clinton to Kenya, South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria. She ends this trip Friday in Cape Verde.
利比里亚是克林顿非洲之行的第六站。她已经访问了肯尼亚、南非、安哥拉、刚果和尼日利亚。星期五克林顿将在佛得角结束这次非洲之行。 |