VOA标准英语2015--索马里主持东非政府间发展组织外长会议

 

Somalia Hosts IGAD Foreign Ministers 索马里主持东非政府间发展组织外长会议

MOGADISHU—

Foreign Ministers from seven countries in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, have met in the Somali capital for the first time in nearly 25 years. The trade grouping's talks focused on political and security progress made in Somalia, as well as the anticipated 2016 elections.

The high level session of in the Somali capital Mogadishu brought together top diplomats¹ from the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed the IGAD delegation² and thanked the regional bloc³ for picking Mogadishu as this years host capital. "This IGAD council ministerial session is significant because it's the first time IGAD member states at this level are discussing Somalia's political matters inside Somalia," he said.

Security was stepped up in most parts of the city prior and during the meeting.

President Mohamud thanked IGAD member states for assisting in the stabilization⁴ of Somalia. Four members of the regional bloc have already contributed troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM.

The 22,000 strong AU force is mandated⁵ with assisting the federal government in its war against the terror group al-Shabab.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom, who is the chair of the IGAD Council of Ministers said that the IGAD regional bloc and the international community have both witnessed the progress made by Somalia in the past couple of years and reiterated⁶ their commitment to the country's security.

“And this is not just recognized by us, by IGAD as neighboring countries, but also by the international community. And what’s important now is to continue the march towards sustainable peace and development," states Tedros.

The top U.N. envoy⁷ to Somalia, Ambassador Nicholas Kay, said Mogadishu's successful hosting of the 53rd IGAD summit is a clear indication of progress.

“It shows that peace and security is returning to Somalia. It shows that Somalia is returning to the community of nations. It is now able to operate as a full member of IGAD and host IGAD council of ministers," adds Kay.

Somali President Mohamud also thanked the international community and paid a special tribute to IGAD. "Following the positive developments over the past two years, achieved with the support of our international partners and in particular IGAD member states, we have to continue working together," he says, "towards the implementation⁸ of the agenda on the federal government of Somalia's political way forward."

An IGAD summit is expected to be held in Mogadishu later in the year.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

3 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

4 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

5 mandated   

adj. 委托统治的

参考例句：

• Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
• Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。

6 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

7 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

8 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。