2007年VOA标准英语-Former UN Secretary-General Returns Home to Gha

By Efam Dovi
Accra
24 January 2007

Kofi Annan (file photo)

Former United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, Tuesday retuned to his home country, Ghana, to a rousing¹ welcome. It is the first time Mr. Annan has returned to Ghana, since leaving the U.N. top post in December. Efam Dovi was at the Kotoka International Airport, in Accra, and files this report for VOA.

 

 

The drumming and dancing started at this usually restricted² area of the tarmac hours before the Alitalia plane he was traveling on touched down, late Tuesday.

 

Many people responded a call by the government for Ghanaians to turn out to welcome Mr. Annan and his wife, Nane. Passengers waiting at the nearby departure³ lounge⁴ and airport staff watched through windows to catch a glimpse⁵ of Mr. Annan. One man voiced the belief of many people; that Mr. Annan had done Africa proud.

 

 

"I decided⁶ to come because he has done a great job to Ghana and Africa, black Africa, and we are very grateful to him for solving peace in most of the sub-regions, in West Africa, as well as the world in general," he said.

 

Mr. Annan is the first black African and the second African, after Boutros Boutros-Gali of Egypt, to have held the U.N. top post. He is the first U.N. staff member to have risen through the ranks to head the world body. He served two five-year terms as the seventh secretary-general.

 

Ghanaian President John Kufuor and Vice⁷ President Alhaji Aliu Mahama were among the government officials who were at the airport to welcome him.

 

Mr. Annan held a brief, closed-door meeting with the president, after which he told journalists, he was happy to be home.

 

"My wife and I are extremely happy to be here," he said. "When we look out the window and saw that you are here in your numbers to welcome us home, we were really really moved. It's been a long journey and, today, I complete the circle and am really looking forward to sitting down with my compatriots - men and women of Ghana - to discussing some of the issues."

 

The 68-year-old, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with the United Nations in 2001, thanked Ghanaians for their support and encouragement throughout his 10-year term.

 

Thursday, Mr. Annan will deliver a lecture, as part of activities marking the celebration of Ghana's 50th independence anniversary⁸.

1 rousing   

adj.充满活力[激情]的；激励的，激动人心的v.醒来，唤醒( rouse的现在分词 )；使…活跃起来[产生兴趣]

参考例句：

• the rousing finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony 贝多芬第九交响曲激动人心的末乐章
• The team was given a rousing reception by the fans. 球队受到了球迷的热烈欢迎。

2 restricted   

adj.有限的；受约束的

参考例句：

• Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 在城里车速不得超过每小时30英里。
• a restricted range of foods 有限的食物种类

3 departure   

n.离开，起程；背离，违反

参考例句：

• Do you know what lies behind her sudden departure for London?你知道她突然去伦敦的原因吗？
• She took over his work after his departure.他离开以后，她接替了他的工作。

4 lounge   

n.休闲室，休息室，长沙发；v.闲荡，闲散地度过，混日子

参考例句：

• We had coffee in the lounge.我们在客厅里喝咖啡。
• Don't lounge away your working hours.不要消磨工作时间。

5 glimpse   

vt.瞥见；n.一瞥，一看

参考例句：

• One glimpse at himself in the mirror was enough.让他照着镜子看自己一眼就够了。
• She catches a glimpse of a car in the distance.她一眼就瞥见了远处的汽车。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 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。

8 anniversary   

n.周年(纪念日)

参考例句：

• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
• Today is my parents'30th wedding anniversary.今天是我父母结婚30周年纪念日。