VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Travels to South Africa Thursday

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in South Africa on a visit South Africa hopes will lead to closer ties and cooperation in a number of areas. Some non-governmental organizations are hoping the visit will lead to the United States providing developmental assistance to Zimbabwe.
　
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaks during gala dinner at local restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya, 05 Aug 2009

Secretary Clinton will meet Friday with International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. South African authorities are hoping that the meeting will lead to the formation of a mechanism¹ to replace the defunct² binational commission, which operated during the administration of former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

They believe this will foster increased trade and even stronger cooperation under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, known as AGOA. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation says this country's trade with the U.S. under AGOA is more diversified⁴ than that of any other country in sub-Saharan Africa, and they want to see that grow.

Total trade between the two countries in 2008 was close to $10 billion, with South Africa enjoying a surplus of around $2 billion.

South Africa is seeking greater collaboration⁵ with the United States in combating communicable diseases, including tuberculosis⁶, HIV and AIDS. The secretary will visit a U.S. project that offers treatment to AIDS patients with Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
　
Nelson Mandela, celebrating 89th birthday, gives the thumb up, 18 Jul 2007

Mrs. Clinton will also pay a courtesy call on former President Nelson Mandela.

Earlier, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson said that Secretary Clinton will be encouraging South Africa to press Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to fully⁷ implement⁸ the global political agreement he signed with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

"And we will also seek to work with South Africa and the regional states to ensure that the GPA is fully implemented⁹, and that that country is able to return to democratic rule, and its people allowed to have some opportunity for economic progress," said Carson.

South African President Jacob Zuma met earlier this week with Mr. Tsvangirai and promised he would contact Mr. Mugabe to discuss what he said were Zimbabwe's weighty problems.

The United States currently provides widespread humanitarian¹⁰ assistance to Zimbabwe, but wants to see full implementation¹¹ of the global political agreement and an end to political violence and harassment¹² of Mr. Mugabe's opponents before offering developmental or economic assistance.

But some non-governmental organizations, which in the past have argued against economic cooperation with Zimbabwe, are now saying that economic assistance should be offered by the U.S. and other Western countries.

Brian Raftopoulos of Zimbabwe's Solidarity¹³ Peace Trust tells VOA developmental assistance is key to the long-term success of the unity³ government.

"Obviously, the issues around GPA have to be addressed and pressure has to be brought by the region, by the international community for that matter. But, at the same time, there has got to be a new engagement around the economy, because this agreement will not move forward without that," he said.

Zimbabwe's finance minister, Tendai Biti, says the country needs $10 billion to get the economy on track and $45 billion over the coming decade to fully develop it.

1 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

2 defunct   

adj.死亡的；已倒闭的

参考例句：

• The scheme for building an airport seems to be completely defunct now.建造新机场的计划看来整个完蛋了。
• This schema object is defunct.No modifications are allowed until it is made active again.此架构对象不起作用。在重新激活之前，不能进行任何改动。

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

6 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

9 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

10 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

11 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

12 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

13 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。