VOA标准英语2010年-US Vice President Urges Kenyans to Emb

U.S. Vice¹ President Joe Biden, left, speaks during a joint² press conference with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, right, at State House Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, June 8, 2010. Kenya's president asked the United States on Tuesday to lead a greater international effort to stabilize³ neighboring Somalia, while visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said the U.S. is committed to helping⁴ Kenya see regional stability.(AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

Kenya’s foreign minister said visiting U.S Vice President Joseph Biden is scheduled to address a public forum⁵ in the capital, Nairobi Wednesday.

Moses Wetangula told VOA that Mr. Biden had a “wonderful” meeting with President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga as well as senior government officials. He said the meeting with Vice President Biden centered on strong bilateral⁶ cooperation and issues affecting the East African region.

“Today, in the morning, he is scheduled to meet and address a congregation of several groupings of civil society, NGO’s, academics and other Kenyans of good will from all over Nairobi, and who will congregate⁷ at the Kenyatta Conference Center,” he said.

The public forum address forms part of Mr. Biden’s three-day official visit to explain to Kenyans the discussions he held with senior government officials, including President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga.

President Barack Obama’s administration has encouraged Kenya’s coalition⁸ government to reform crucial state institutions. This comes after the popular demand for more democratic reforms following the 2007 post-election violence that led to the loss of life and property.

Some key government officials have been accused of corruption⁹ and hindering reforms, which led to Washington’s decision to ban Kenya’s attorney general, Amos Wako, from traveling to the United States.

Shortly after holding discussions with senior government officials, Mr. Biden reportedly encouraged Kenyans to move ahead with ongoing¹⁰ reforms.

Vice President Biden was quoted by the local media as saying “putting in place a new constitution and strengthening democratic institutions and rule of law will further open the door to major American development programs ... and will bring about reinvestment by American corporations… Americans want to do business here, they want to travel here and, with the right climate, they will come.”

Foreign minister Wetangula said the country’s reforms are progressing steadily¹¹.

“The reforms are on course… we are actually right on schedule on every aspect of reform culminating in the referendum to approve the new constitution scheduled for 4th August. Now, the vice president, of course, indicated in the discussions that President Barack Obama is keen to see that Kenya is able to achieve lasting¹² reforms through the promulgation¹³ of our new constitution, which we are doing, by the way,” Wetangula said.

He also said President Kibaki urged Washington to lead the way in efforts by regional and conditional¹⁴ groups to restore peace and security in neighboring Somalia.

Meanwhile, the Interim¹⁵ Electoral Commission has announced its readiness to conduct the referendum on Kenya’s proposed constitution as originally scheduled for August 4.
 

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 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。

3 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

6 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。

7 congregate   

v.(使)集合，聚集

参考例句：

• Now they can offer a digital place for their readers to congregate and talk.现在他们可以为读者提供一个数字化空间，让读者可以聚集和交谈。
• This is a place where swans congregate.这是个天鹅聚集地。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

11 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

12 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

13 promulgation   

n.颁布

参考例句：

• The new law comes into force from the day of its promulgation. 新法律自公布之日起生效。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Article 118 These Regulations shall come into effect from the day of their promulgation. 第一百一十八条本条例自公布之日起实施。 来自经济法规部分

14 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

15 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。