2007年VOA标准英语-Gul Sworn in as Turkey's New President

By VOA News
28 August 2007

Abdullah Gul smiles after his election, 28 Aug 2007

Abdullah Gul has been sworn in as Turkey's new president, following his election earlier in the day by the country's parliament.

 

The former foreign minister took the oath of office Tuesday and pledged neutrality between Turkey's secularists - including the military - and its more religious elements.

Gul, a devout³ Muslim, is Turkey's first president with a background in political Islam. However, he has pledged to uphold the nation's strong secular¹ traditions separating government and religion.

He was elected Tuesday with 339 votes in the 550-seat parliament in a third round of voting, when only a simple majority was needed. Earlier this month, he failed to win the two-thirds majority needed for a victory in the first two rounds of voting.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the election of Gul, of the ruling Justice and Development Party. Barroso said it could help speed Turkey's bid to enter the EU.

Turkey's military chief warned Monday of threats to the country's traditions, vowing⁴ that the military will protect Turkey's secular and democratic structures.

General Yasar Buyukanit, head of the staunchly secularist² military, said "centers of evil" are trying to undermine Turkish secularism⁵. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the military to stay out of politics.

Gul's wife wears an Islamic headscarf, which has been banned in Turkey's public offices and schools for nearly three decades.

Gul's nomination⁶ for president earlier this year sparked a political crisis in which thousands of secularists took to the streets to protest his candidacy.

1 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

2 secularist   

n.现世主义者，世俗主义者；宗教与教育分离论者

参考例句：

3 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

4 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

5 secularism   

n.现世主义；世俗主义；宗教与教育分离论；政教分离论

参考例句：

• Unless are devoted to God, secularism shall not leave us. 除非我们奉献于神，否则凡俗之心便不会离开我们。 来自互联网
• They are no longer a huge threat to secularism. 他们已不再是民主的巨大威胁。 来自互联网

6 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。