2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Recognizes African Democracy Advocates

By Scott Stearns
White House
27 June 2006

President Bush welcomed four Africans to the Oval Office to recognize their work in promoting democracy. 

 
President Bush, second right, meets 2006 Democracy Award winners
  
President Bush says the winners of the 2006 Democracy Awards have shown remarkable¹ courage and strength in promoting freedom.

"We have had an amazing discussion. My spirits are enriched by talking to freedom lovers and freedom fighters," said Mr. Bush.

The awards are given by the non-profit National Endowment for Democracy, a bipartisan group promoting democracy in more than 90 countries.

President Bush met with the winners before their awards ceremony and congratulated them on their commitment to improving people's lives.

Those recognized are Alfred Taban, the publisher of Sudan's only independent English-language daily newspaper and Sierra Leonean Zainab Bangura who has worked to promote human rights in neighboring Liberia and is now the Chief Civil Affairs Officer in the U.N. mission there.

Zimbabwean Reginald Matchaba-Hove was recognized for his work on human rights and electoral law in Southern Africa.

The fourth recipient² of this year's awards is Immaculee Birhaheka, who is one of the leading human rights activists³ in the Democratic Republic of Congo and serves as president of a group promoting initiatives to help women.

President Bush said he was proud to welcome the winners to the White House.

"I thank you for being witness to this universal fact, that liberty is universal in its application, that people everywhere desire to be free, that freedom does not just belong to American citizens. Freedom belongs to everybody," he added.

The president told the Democracy Award winners that he will remain engaged in working to end hunger and promote democracy in Africa

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 recipient   

a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器

参考例句：

• Please check that you have a valid email certificate for each recipient. 请检查是否对每个接收者都有有效的电子邮件证书。
• Colombia is the biggest U . S aid recipient in Latin America. 哥伦比亚是美国在拉丁美洲最大的援助对象。

3 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》