VOA常速英语2007-Togolese Hope for More EU Aid Following Election

By Kari Barber
Dakar
19 October 2007

Legislative¹ elections in Togo this week were deemed largely free and fair by international observers, and now many in the country are hoping for a full restoration of aid from the European Union. Aid was cut in 1993 because of concerns the government had become too authoritarian². Kari Barber reports from our West Africa bureau in Dakar that analysts⁴ say while a return to full funding looks likely, international bodies will still need to keep a close eye on the Togolese government's commitment to democracy.

European Union officials say they will consider Sunday's election when they determine whether to restore full funding to Togo which would likely mean more than $50 million a year to the small West African nation.

Spokesman Claude Bammante is from the ruling Rally of the Togolese People party.  He says the party won a majority of seats according to provisional results in the election in which turnout was at least 85 percent.

Now with the election over and final results expected in the coming days, Bammante says Togolese are eager to see what the European Union will do about aid.

Under the rule of Gnassingbe Eyadema, father of current President Faure Gnassingbe, aid was cut to Togo over human rights violations⁵ and political repression⁶.  Aid was partially⁷ restored in 2004 with a commitment from the government to work toward democracy.

In contrast to past elections often marred⁸ by boycotts⁹, apparent cheating and violence, Sunday's vote saw no significant violence and good participation¹⁰ of opposition¹¹ parties.

Analyst³ Kissy Agyeman of the London-based research group Global Insight says the lack of aid has greatly impaired¹² development in Togo, and she expects a full restoration of funding. But, she says, international bodies will need to make sure the election was not just a show by the Togolese government to win back favor of the EU, but instead represents a true break from authoritarian rule of the past.

"I think the international community will be very mindful to ensure that this is not just a one-off thing and it is not just a means for Togo to get the funds. So I think there will be robust¹³ follow up," she noted¹⁴.

Agyeman says to prevent violence from flaring¹⁵ up the ruling party will need to make efforts to ease the nation's rigidly¹⁶ divided political atmosphere.

"There should be real follow up of the promises that RPT, the ruling party, has made in terms of ensuring that there is a more inclusive approach and that there will be continued reforms to the political system," she added.

Hundreds were killed and thousands displaced by violence surrounding the 2005 presidential election in which President Gnassingbe was elected to power.

Opposition parties have complained of fraud in Sunday's poll, but Agyeman says unless significant evidence of cheating is found, their complaints are not likely to affect the outcome of the election or the nation's chances of getting full aid.

1 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

2 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

3 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。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

6 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

7 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

8 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

9 boycotts   

（对某事物的）抵制( boycott的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Their methods included boycotts and court action, supplemented by'sit-ins". 他们的主要方法包括联合抵制、法庭起诉，还附带进行静坐抗议。
• Are boycotts for other purposes illegal? 至于用于其它目的的联合抵制行动是否也是非法的呢？

10 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

11 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

12 impaired   

adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

14 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

15 flaring   

a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的

参考例句：

• A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls. 墙壁上装饰着廉价的花纸。
• Goebbels was flaring up at me. 戈塔尔当时已对我面呈愠色。

16 rigidly   

adv.刻板地，僵化地

参考例句：

• Life today is rigidly compartmentalized into work and leisure. 当今的生活被严格划分为工作和休闲两部分。
• The curriculum is rigidly prescribed from an early age. 自儿童时起即已开始有严格的课程设置。