VOA常速英语2020--委内瑞拉民主过度框架（在线收听）

Venezuela's crisis deepens each day as oil prices fall and COVID-19 spreads.The United States has announced a plan to help Venezuelans escape from years of repression and political conflict. The Democratic Transition Framework proposed by U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo calls on both the Nicholas Maduro regime and Interim President Juan Guaido to step aside so that the National Assembly can create a Council of State to serve as the transitional government, which would hold free and fair presidential elections. U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams cautioned in a recent newspaper editorial that "democracy isn't only about elections." It requires establishing a new, balanced, and independent National Electoral Council – and it requires replacing the current Maduro-run Supreme Court with independent justices. Moreover, "A vibrant democracy also demands a free and independent media with an end to the regime's pervasive censorship," wrote Special Representative Abrams. The United States supports a return to democracy in Venezuela and this means that every political party must be able to compete on a level playing field in free and fair elections.

随着油价下跌和COVID-19传播，委内瑞拉危机日益加剧。美国宣布了一项计划，帮助委内瑞拉人民摆脱多年的压迫和政治冲突。美国国务卿迈克·蓬佩奥提议的民主过度框架呼吁尼古拉斯·马杜罗政府和临时总统胡安·瓜伊多下台以便国民大会能够组建一个国务委员会，作为过渡政府，举行自由和公正的总统选举。美国驻委内瑞拉特别代表艾利欧特·艾布拉姆斯近日在社论中警告称，“民主不仅有关选举。”其要求建立一个新的、平衡独立的全国选举委员会——还要求用独立法官替代现在由马杜罗管理的最高法院。此外，“一个生机勃勃的民主还需要自由独立的媒体，结束该政权无处不在的审查制度，”特别代表艾布拉姆斯写道。美国支持委内瑞拉重获民主这意味着每个政党都必须能够在自由和公正的选举中公平竞争。

"The U.S. will recognize the results of a free and fair election," said Special Representative Abrams, "no matter which party wins; what we oppose is the abuse of state power that enables one party to rule indefinitely." U.S. sanctions have not prevented food or medicine from reaching Venezuelans, said Mr. Abrams. Instead, U.S. economic pressure is aimed at depriving, "the Maduro regime of the income it uses for repression -- or steals through vast corruption -- and forcing the regime to agree to presidential elections." The military will play an essential role in bringing about peaceful change and shaping Venezuela's future. "The military and police," said Mr. Abrams, "must abandon the role the Maduro regime has forged for them -- carrying out the repression of the Venezuelan people. The military must also join in expelling the Cuban intelligence agents." The United States is prepared to work with all Venezuelans and with other nations and lift sanctions when the necessary conditions for free and fair elections are met. The Democratic Transition Framework, said Secretary Pompeo, "can provide a path that ends the suffering and opens the path to a brighter future for Venezuela."

“美国将承认自由公平选举的结果，”特别代表艾布拉姆斯说到，“不管哪个政党胜出；我们反对的是滥用国家权力。”艾布拉姆斯说，美国的制裁并没有阻止委内瑞拉人获得食品和药品。相反，美国的经济压力旨在剥夺“马杜罗政权用于镇压——或通过大规模腐败窃取的收入——并迫使该政权同意举行总统选举。”军队将在实现和平变革和塑造委内瑞拉未来方面发挥重要作用。“军队和政治，”艾布拉姆斯说，“必须放弃马杜罗政权为他们打造的角色——镇压委内瑞拉人民。军方也必须加入驱逐古巴情报人员的行列之中。”美国准备与所有委内瑞拉人和其他国家合作，并在自由和公正选举的必要条件得到满足时解除制裁。国务卿蓬佩奥表示，民主过度框架“可以为委内瑞拉人民提供一条结束苦难道路，并为他们开辟一条通往更光明未来的道路。”