2007年VOA标准英语-Somali President in Capital for Consultations

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
08 January 2007 

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Somalia's president Monday arrived in the capital Mogadishu to hold consultations¹ with representatives from religious, civil society, business and other groups. Somalia's foreign minister says the meetings are, in part, to pave the way for the government to move its base from Baidoa to Mogadishu. Cathy Majtenyi reports for VOA from Nairobi.

 
Abdullahi Yusuf sits in his compound during interview in Baidoa, 15 Dec. 2006
This is the first time Abdullahi Yusuf stepped into the capital since he took office more than two years ago.

Until now, he and other members of the transitional government, commonly known as the TFG, cited security concerns as being the main reason why the government chose to be based in Baidoa, rather than Mogadishu.

But, says Somali foreign affairs minister Esmael Mohamud Hurreh, things are different at this time.

"It [Yusuf's visit] is a very symbolic² and very important move. It symbolizes³ that a president of the TFG is moving into Mogadishu. There has been an absence of governance in Mogadishu for a long period, and I think this signals the end of the absence of governance in Mogadishu."

Sources tell VOA the reason for Yusuf's visit to Mogadishu was to soothe⁴ tensions between the Hawiya and Darod clans⁶, in part arising from the government's disarmament exercise.

The historical rivalry⁷ between the two clans was exacerbated⁸ in recent months with the Hawiya clan⁵ said to support the Islamic Courts Union and the Darod clan said to back the transitional government.

 
Somali foreign minister Esmael Mohamud Hurreh (Sep 2006)
Foreign Minister Hurreh denies that the president is there primarily to ease clan tensions.

He said, "The purpose of the visit is to make clear to anybody that the TFG has got every intention of moving into the capital."

Until about two weeks ago, the capital was controlled by militiamen from the Islamic Courts Union, which rose to power in the middle of last year and took control over much of southern Somalia.

During two weeks of air raids and combat fighting at the end of December, the Islamists abandoned areas they held as Ethiopian-backed government troops advanced.

Now, the government and officials from the International Contact Group on Somalia among others are looking for ways to move forward, including holding reconciliation⁹ talks with a cross-section of Somalis, sending in a peacekeeping force, reducing the number of guns, and developing the country.

But the capital is still volatile¹⁰. There were reports of gunmen firing on Ethiopian forces Sunday following anti-Ethiopian protests in which two people died.

1 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

5 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

6 clans   

宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派

参考例句：

• There are many clans in European countries. 欧洲国家有很多党派。
• The women were the great power among the clans [gentes], as everywhere else. 妇女在克兰〈氏族〉里，乃至一般在任何地方，都有很大的势力。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

7 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

8 exacerbated   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs. 这些症状可能会因为某些药物而加重。
• The drugs they gave her only exacerbated the pain. 他们给她吃的药只是加重了她的痛楚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

10 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。