2006年VOA标准英语-US, Benin Presidents Discuss Darfur

By Scott Stearns
White House
14 December 2006

U.S. President George Bush says he will continue to work through the United Nations to strengthen an African Union peacekeeping force in Sudan's Darfur region. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Mr. Bush discussed the issue with the visiting president of Benin.

Presidents George W. Bush (r) and Thomas Boni Yayi

President Bush says resolving the humanitarian¹ crisis in Darfur was a big part of his talks with Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi.

"The president recognized the genocide taking place in Darfur, as does the [U.S.] administration," said President Bush. "We want to work through the United Nations to have a very strong and capable AU force, augmented² by United Nations help to save lives."

The underfunded African Union force has about seven-thousand troops at the center of a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than two million people in nearly four years.

Khartoum has consistently refused to allow a U.N. force in Darfur. President Bush is backing a U.N. resolution that would convert all of the A.U. troops into an international peacekeeping operation.

During their White House talks, President Bush and President Yayi discussed Benin's involvement in American efforts to fight malaria³ and boost regional development through the U.S. Millennium⁴ Challenge Account.

"One thing I am impressed with is the president's commitment to democracy, rule of law, decency⁵ and education," he said. "And, to the extent that we can continue to help your country, Mr. President, we will do so. Welcome. I am glad you are here."

Earlier this year, Benin signed a $307-million compact through the Millennium Challenge Account to simplify the process of securing land titles and improve small-business access to financial services. The agreement also funds programs to improve the ability of Benin's judicial⁶ system to resolve claims and to increase exports by reducing delays at the Port of Cotonou.

President Yayi said African leaders are mindful of what needs to be done to boost their countries' standards of living.

"Africa is aware of her responsibility in the role she has to play, globally speaking, because we have to reach prosperity, and that prosperity has some conditions," said President Yayi. "We need peace. We need stability. We need security. And America has a leading role to play in restoring a peaceful continent."

President Yayi says he and President Bush discussed the Doha Round of world-trade talks and what he believes are prejudicial tariffs⁷ on cotton that hurt farmers in Benin, as well as those in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal.

"Some subsidizes granted to some countries, like America, here, cause a kind of disfunctioning in our country and on the continent also, so America should help us smooth this mechanism," he said.

President Yayi says he is encouraged by U.S. efforts to create a program to promote cotton production in developing nations, and hopes that will be part of the ultimate resolution of the issue before the World Trade Organization.

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 Augmented   

adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• 'scientists won't be replaced," he claims, "but they will be augmented." 他宣称：“科学家不会被取代；相反，他们会被拓展。” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• The impact of the report was augmented by its timing. 由于发表的时间选得好，这篇报导的影响更大了。

3 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

4 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

5 decency   

n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重

参考例句：

• His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。

6 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

7 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。