VOA常速英语2007-EU, AU Leaders Stress Equal Partnership, Inclusi

By Kari Barber
Dakar
31 October 2007

European Union and African Union officials are meeting in Ghana's capital Accra Wednesday to set the agenda for a joint¹ summit in Lisbon, Portugal later this year. The summit has stirred controversy² as governments wrangle³ over whether Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe should be invited. Kari Barber reports from VOA's regional bureau in Dakar.

European Union officials say invitations to the EU-AU summit will be sent out in the coming days. And, they say, President Robert Mugabe, who has been accused of human rights abuses and economic mismanagement, will be invited.

There were concerns that a disagreement over Mr. Mugabe's attendance could torpedo⁴ the conference, scheduled for December. Last month, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would not attend the summit if Mr. Mugabe attends.

But EU and AU leaders moved forward Wednesday as they met in Accra to set a conference agenda.

Journalist Kwafi Kpodo attended the meeting. He says leaders at the planning meeting stressed the need for the European Union and the African Union to make the conference happen and to work toward common goals.

"The Ghanian foreign minister and the Portuguese⁵ minister just exchanged determination to bring a new partnership⁶, a very inclusive partnership to Africa," said Kpodo. "So the nature of the partnership they want is equal partners and not anyone having the upper hand."

Analysts⁷ say the EU may be seeking to strengthen ties with Africa as China's economic influence on the continent grows.

Prosper⁸ Addo, researcher at the Accra-based Kofi Annan Center, says the relationship between the EU and the AU has been helpful for Africa in some areas - such as bolstering⁹ AU peacekeeping efforts like the one in Darfur. But, he says, the relationship should develop beyond providing aid and assistance.

"These partnerships¹⁰ should be seen on an equal status," he said. "And also if it is possible that ways and means are developed to make the continent a bit independent so that we do not always go begging, begging, begging. Perhaps that should also be the way that we are going."

Addo says the impact of decisions made at the summit will depend on how African leaders implement¹¹ them.

"For all these efforts to really bear fruit a lot will depend on leaders once again," he said. "I am just hoping and praying that decisions that will be made will be taken in good faith. But that the Africa person, that man walking on the street, really should be at the mind of our leaders."

Topics expected to be discussed at the Lisbon summit include climate change, energy, and how African countries can reach development goals.

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 wrangle   

vi.争吵

参考例句：

• I don't want to get into a wrangle with the committee.我不想同委员会发生争执。
• The two countries fell out in a bitter wrangle over imports.这两个国家在有关进口问题的激烈争吵中闹翻了。

4 torpedo   

n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏

参考例句：

• His ship was blown up by a torpedo.他的船被一枚鱼雷炸毁了。
• Torpedo boats played an important role during World War Two.鱼雷艇在第二次世界大战中发挥了重要作用。

5 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

9 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

10 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

11 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。