2006年VOA标准英语-Laura Bush Arrives in Africa

By Scott Stearns
Accra
15 January 2006

Laura Bush, center, holds hands with 10-year-old Aisha Garuba as she is greeted by Ghanaian officials  
  
U.S. first lady Laura Bush is in Africa at the start of a four day tour that includes the inauguration¹ of the continent's first female head of state, Liberian President-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

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Traditional Ghanaian drummers welcomed Mrs. Bush to Accra. She will meet with Ghanaian President John Kufour during this visit, and announce a partnership² between six American universities and six African nations to develop individual kindergarten-through-eighth-grade curriculums.

She will also visit Nigeria to meet with President Olusegun Obasanjo, and speak about HIV/AIDS prevention at a hospital in the capital, Abuja.

 
Liberian President elect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf waves at the crowds during pre-inaugural celebrations in Monrovia, Liberia, Jan. 14, 2006
  
But the centerpiece of this trip is Monday's inauguration of Liberian Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as Africa's first female head of state.

Speaking to reporters en route to Africa, Mrs. Bush said the Liberian president-elect is a shining example of women's empowerment.

The first lady is leading a delegation³ that includes her daughter, Barbara, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer says the strength of the delegation shows President Bush's commitment to Liberia and women's rights.

"President Bush is sending this high-level delegation to underscore the importance of Liberia's transition from war to peace, and towards a democratic consolidation⁴ for the Liberian people, the continent of Africa and the world at large," said Frazer. "The election of Africa's first female president is an inspiration for young girls and women across the continent."

The Bush administration last year contributed more than $840 million to Liberia, the bulk of which went to pay for United Nations peacekeepers. It also included $60 million to train Liberian police and $90 million to help returning refugees.

Mrs. Bush said one of the biggest problems facing Liberia is massive unemployment.
 

Charles Taylor (file photo)   
  
There is also the question of former rebel leader and head-of-state Charles Taylor, who is currently living in exile in Nigeria. Taylor started the war that ultimately toppled former military ruler Samuel Doe. Taylor is now wanted by a war crimes tribunal for his alleged⁵ support for human rights abuses in the civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone.

Assistant Secretary of State Frazer says the Bush administration still wants Taylor held accountable for his actions.

"Clearly, the United States continues to seek Charles Taylor having to answer, to be accountable for the atrocities⁶ he carried out in Sierra Leone, where he is indicted⁷ by the Sierra Leone special court, and throughout the Mano River states," said Frazer. "He was one of the major sources of instability in the region."

During a visit to Washington after her election, Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf asked Secretary of State Rice about Taylor. Frazer says the secretary told the president-elect that Washington will continue to pursue the matter, and was encouraged by Nigerian President Obasanjo's statement to the U.N. General Assembly that the former Liberian leader should be turned over to the special court.

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 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。

3 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。

4 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。