VOA常速英语2007-German Chancellor Wraps Up Africa Tour in Liberi

By Kari Barber/Prince Collins
Dakar/Monrovia
07 October 2007

During German Chancellor¹ Angela Merkel's last stop on her first sub-Saharan Africa tour, she met with Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to discuss how to bring economic prosperity to the nation still reeling from recent war. For many the visit raised hopes of increased aid and new jobs. Kari Barber has more from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.

After meeting with President Sirleaf, Chancellor Merkel said the two discussed what Liberia would need to rise out of poverty. Mrs. Merkel identified a few key areas where the country would need support - including education, health care and economic development.

She said Germany is looking into how it can help.

"It is in my interest and our interest to see that this country that has been torn apart by war and has been devastated² by internal strife³ is now able to repair its infrastructure⁴ to achieve the potential and creativity of its people," said Angela Merkel.

Liberian student Deddeh Sannah says she hopes close relations between Mrs. Merkel and Mrs. Sirleaf will mean reviving industries that were destroyed in the war.

A joint⁵ German-Liberian group operated an iron-ore deposit in the Bong district in the decades before the civil war, but abandoned the facilities when rebel troops advanced on the area.

"When I heard that the German chancellor was coming I was really happy because you know that in the years past Germany was running a project here at Bong Mines and since the war the place has broken down," said Deddeh Sannah. "We know the level of destruction that went on there. So I hope the visit here will mean well for us and they will one day go back and pick up from where they stopped."

Vincent Chounse of Monrovia says he hopes the visit means more than just talk, but will result in jobs and assistance to reconstruct the city that still lacks basic services.

"We hope the visit is a positive visit, not to come and make big, big promises and not fulfill⁶ their promises," said Vincent Chounse. "We would feel so hurt and disappointed."

Chancellor Merkel sparked controversy⁷ during the tour when she said Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe should not be banned from an African Union-European Union summit later this year - putting her at odds⁸ with other European leaders who have said they will boycott⁹ if Mr. Mugabe attends.

President Mugabe is widely criticized for political repression¹⁰ and for driving Zimbabwe's economy to ruin. African Union officials have backed Mrs. Merkel's position saying they too want to see all countries invited to the conference.

Mrs. Merkel's five-day Africa visit also included stops in Ethiopia and South Africa where she discussed AIDS, human rights, and global warming.

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

3 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 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。

6 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

7 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

8 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

9 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

10 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。