VOA标准英语2009年-SADC Leaders Prepare to Meet on Madagascar

Southern African leaders are preparing to meet Monday in Swaziland to discuss an economic recovery plan for Zimbabwe and the recent change of government in Madagascar. We report from the summit site in Ezulwini, outside the capital, Mbanane.
　
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Leaders of the 15-member Southern African Development Community are holding this special summit one week after Madagascar's opposition-leader Andry Rajoelina took over the government in a military-backed transfer of power.

This followed the resignation of then-President Marc Ravalomanana after weeks of strikes and demonstrations² in which more than 100 people died.

South Africa Foreign Affairs Ministry³ Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said on national radio the crisis in Madagascar would be high on Monday's agenda.

"The SADC summit is expected to deliberate upon proposals to assist Madagasacar to return to democracy, the rule of law and constitutionality," said Ronnie Mamoepa.

SADC has criticized the transfer of power. The African Union has called the transfer a coup⁴ d'etat and has suspended Madagascar's membership.

Mr. Ravalomanana was in Swaziland last week, but reportedly left on Saturday for South Africa.

In Antananarivo more than 30 people were injured Saturday when police quelled⁵ a demonstration¹ by the former president's supporters.

Mr. Ravalomanana told them in a telephone message to maintain the struggle against the transitional government and said he would return in the near future.

SADC announced the summit after Zimbabwe appealed for $2 billion in emergency aid to revive social services and stabilize⁶ its collapsing⁷ economy.

SADC leaders, who have invested a great deal of energy in negotiating the power-sharing government in Harare, are said to want to show support.

But they are also reluctant to provide funds in the current economic downturn, which has affected⁸ their own economies.

The International Monetary⁹ Fund ended a visit to Zimbabwe last week expressing support for the new government's efforts, but noting that Zimbabwe must first repay about $130 million in arrears¹⁰ on its debt with the Fund.

The African Development Bank has said Zimbabwe must repay nearly $500 million in arrears before it can provide any new loans.

An official with the Development Bank of Southern Africa last month said his institution could provide new loans to Zimbabwe. He indicated it had approximately $200 million.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 quelled   

v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Thanks to Kao Sung-nien's skill, the turmoil had been quelled. 亏高松年有本领，弹压下去。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
• Mr. Atkinson was duly quelled. 阿特金森先生被及时地将了一军。 来自辞典例句

6 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

7 collapsing   

压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The rocks were folded by collapsing into the center of the trough. 岩石由于坍陷进入凹槽的中心而发生褶皱。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

10 arrears   

n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作

参考例句：

• The payments on that car loan are in arrears by three months.购车贷款的偿付被拖欠了三个月。
• They are urgent for payment of arrears of wages.他们催讨拖欠的工钱。