VOA标准英语2013--AU Gives $50 Million for Mali Peacekeeping

 

AU Gives $50 Million for Mali Peacekeeping

Heads of state who gathered at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa did something they have never done before.

The world body unanimously approved $50 million to help fund an African military intervention¹ in Mali.

This is the first time the African Union has used its budget to fund a peacekeeping operation.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who was elected the new African Union chairman during the summit, said Mali was among the top priorities. “In this regard, the assembly has, among others, adopted a declaration re-affirming its solidarity² with Mali," he said. "And expressing its determination to pool the efforts of member states to assist this sisterly country."

The money will help fund the African-led intervention force that is supporting Mali's national army in its fight against rebels who seized control of territory in the country's north.

Troops from Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso already have arrived on the ground. The AU is asking for 6,000 troops for the operation.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Addis Ababa the U.N. is considering ways to support the mission.

“The United Nations is now actively³ considering, through my recommendation to the Security Council, how the United Nations can help those African countries in terms of logistical support,” he said.

The discussion on Mali doesn't end at this summit. The African Union also is hosting a donor's conference on Tuesday to solicit⁴ funds for the African initiative. The conference is expected to bring together international partners as well as African nations, and to get donations from countries including China and the United States. 

1 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

2 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。

3 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

4 solicit   

vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意)

参考例句：

• Beggars are not allowed to solicit in public places.乞丐不得在公共场所乞讨。
• We should often solicit opinions from the masses.我们应该经常征求群众意见。