VOA标准英语2013--Obama Praises Democratic Progress in Senegal

 

Obama Praises Democratic Progress in Senegal

Thousands turned out to welcome America's first African-American president, on his first return to sub-Saharan Africa since 2009.

At the presidential palace in Dakar, Obama and First Lady Michelle were welcomed by Senegalese President Macky Sall and his wife Mareme.

Bilateral¹ talks covered a range of issues, from U.S. support for Senegal's democracy and infrastructure² to joint³ security.

President Obama praised Sall for his openness and anti-corruption efforts. He said Senegal is an example for Africa.

“It is moving in the right direction, with reforms to deepen democratic institutions and as more Africans across this continent stand up and demand governments that are accountable and serve the people, I believe Senegal can be a great example," said President Obama.

Speaking one day after a U.S. Supreme⁴ Court decision validating⁵ gay marriage, Obama said African nations that make homosexuality a crime should make sure gays and lesbians are not victims of official discrimination.  

"I believe everybody has to be treated equally," said Obama.

President Sall responded by calling his country tolerant and not homophobic, though he said Senegal is not ready to decriminalize homosexuality.

Speaking about economic development, Obama said U.S. policy emphasizes partnership⁶ and trade rather than merely assistance.  

President Sall said Africa needs good governance to make use of its resources.

“We have tremendous natural resources, we have a lot of human resources, we need infrastructure to accompany the development of all these resources, but all this in the context of good governance, otherwise these resources will be in vain," said President Sall.

First Lady Michelle Obama and her mother joined the president at a museum on Goree Island dedicated⁷ to the West African slave trade. Centuries ago, Africans were held captive here before being shipped off, in chains, to be slaves.

Obama said the tour here was a powerful moment that reminded him about the importance of human rights.

"I think more than anything what it reminds us of is we have to remain vigilant," he said.

Earlier, Obama's spoke⁸ of former South African President Nelson Mandela, now gravely ill in a Pretoria hospital.

The president called Mandela a hero for the world, whose legacy⁹ will last through the ages.   

The Obamas leave for South Africa on Friday. 

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 validating   

v.证实( validate的现在分词 )；确证；使生效；使有法律效力

参考例句：

• His politics at home were validating his efforts in the hemisphere. 他的国内政策也有效地支持了他对本半球所做的努力。 来自辞典例句
• A number of different experimental approaches have aided in validating the concept. 许多不同的实验方法，有助于确证这种概念。 来自辞典例句

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

7 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。