VOA常速英语2007年-Senegal Officials Seek Concrete Economic Result

By Kari Barber
Dakar
01 November 2007

European Union officials say plans are in place for a joint¹ European Union-African Union summit to be held later this year. However, Senegalese officials said in a meeting with EU leaders in Dakar late Wednesday that they want to be sure the summit, to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, will bring concrete results to Africa and not just pledges and promises. Kari Barber reports for VOA from Senegal's capital.

EU Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Luis Amado, speaking in Dakar, said important decisions were made in Accra, where a summit planning meeting was held this week about the future of relations between the African Union and the European Union.

He said the relationship should develop into a more equal partnership².

Amado met with Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade³ and with the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs Cheikh Tidiane Gadio.

Gadio, speaking on behalf of President Wade, says Senegal wants assurances that December's joint summit will bring real development to the continent.

Gadio says if the summit turns out to be a meeting where only declarations are made, it will not be good for Africa - Europe relations.

Gadio says Senegal's government wants to know which concrete results it will be able to announce after the summit, especially in the area of infrastructure⁴.

Gadio says Senegal is still not happy with the terms of a proposed new economic trade deal between Europe and West Africa which is supposed to be confirmed by year end.

Many fear the new deal will open African markets to cheap goods from Europe, stunting⁵ Africa's already struggling industries.

Gadio is calling for a postponement⁶, echoing a call from the Economic Community of West African States.

Meeting Africa's energy needs and climate change are also expected to be a main topic at the summit.

The summit has stirred controversy⁷ since British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he will not attend the summit if Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe attends. Mr. Mugabe is accused of human rights violations⁸ and political repression⁹. EU officials said this week that an invitation would be sent to Mr. Mugabe, a decision backed by the African Union.

As European countries seek to solidify¹⁰ their relationship with Africa in response to China's growing influence, Senegalese Minister Gadio says he believes the summit, scheduled for December 8 and 9, could play a critical role in determining the future of EU and AU relations.

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 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。

3 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

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 stunting   

v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Objective To report three-year-old twin brothers with speech stunting. 目的报道孪生兄弟同患语言发育迟缓的临床结果。 来自互联网
• No one should talk while stunting except coach or back spotter. 在技巧进行的过程中，只有教练或后保能说话。 来自互联网

6 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

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 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

9 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。

10 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。