2007年VOA标准英语-Former President Carter Suggests US Government

By Liam Cochrane
Kathmandu
16 June 2007

Former President Jimmy Carter, 82, says Washington should stop treating Nepal's Maoists as terrorists, and start talking with the former rebels instead. Mr. Carter is wrapping up a four-day visit to Nepal to assess the ongoing¹ peace process and help organize upcoming national elections.  Liam Cochrane reports from Kathmandu.

Former US President Jimmy Carter (L) shakes hands with Prachanda, leader of Nepal's Maoists during a meeting in Kathmandu, 15 June 2007

The former president met with leaders of all of Nepal's political parties, including the Maoists, during his brief stay in the Himalayan nation.

The Maoists abandoned their 10-year-long rebellion and joined an interim² government this year. But because they are still considered terrorists by the U.S. government, American diplomats³ and aid workers are not allowed to meet them.

But after meeting Maoist leaders Prachanda and Babarum Battarai, the 2002 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize Jimmy Carter said Washington should consider removing the terrorist label.

"My own opinion is that the United States should establish some communication with the Maoists, because it's obvious the people of Nepal now have accepted the Maoists as playing a role in shaping the future of this country," he said.

He says that when he met Prachanda on Friday, he raised the issue of aggressive behavior by the Maoist's Young Communist League, and was reassured⁴ by the Maoist leader's personal promise to end the group's vigilantism.

The former president visited Nepal as head of the Carter Center, which has been involved in conflict resolution here. The center has 13 election observers traveling the country in the lead-up to constituent⁵ assembly elections due in November or December.

Mr. Carter says reports from his observers indicate that although the decade-long civil war is over, an unacceptable level of violence and fear remains⁶.

"I think the almost universal concern is an absence of complete law and order in this country, a police force that is not performing well because perhaps they lack adequate political support, and this has led to some disturbing events throughout the country," he added.

But although he says the situation isn't perfect, he describes the achievements of the peace process as "extraordinary," and he called Prime Minister G.P. Koirala a "hero" for his role in the transition from civil war to peace.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。