2007年VOA标准英语-Military Escalation Likely in DRC Say Analysts

By Selah Hennessy
Dakar
14 September 2007

The United Nations says Congolese president Joseph Kabila's latest comments on getting rebel forces to join the army marked a positive step towards bringing peace to the volatile¹ North Kivu region, which has seen heavy fighting in recent weeks. Mr. Kabila called on the rebel fighters to rejoin the national army and said he would hold talks to solve the conflict in Kivu. But the dissidents say he is still refusing to negotiate with them, and analysts² say he seems to favor a military solution. Selah Hennessy reports from the VOA West and Central Africa bureau in Dakar.

Bwambale Konokele is a military commander for the dissident ethnic³-Tutsi fighters.

Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, 08 Sep 2007

Following Mr. Kabila's news conference, Konokele says his fighters do want to rejoin the national army. But he says certain issues must be addressed first.

"About the negotiations⁴ we are ready but the problem is still on the side of the government."

The ethnic Tutsi fighters say the government must ensure the safety of Tutsis living in the eastern Congo from attacks by ethnic Hutu former rebels. They also call for the return to Congo of Tutsi refugees living in Rwanda.

Michel Bonnardeaux is a mission spokesman for MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping force in DRC.

He says the government seems to be taking a positive step towards reconciliation⁵.

"President Kabila said that he favors the integration⁶ of the army as an option and that he also said that he would hold a conference on the Kivus so we are counting on the fact that the Kivu conference will happen and that they will find some kind of understanding at that point."

But David Mugnier, the Central Africa project director for the non-governmental organization International Crisis Group, says the president's speech Thursday was not encouraging.

He says the president, who said dissident troops will face forcible disarmament if they do not agree to rejoin the army, looks to be favoring a military resolution in North Kivu.

"President Kabila in his conference yesterday did not reassure⁷ us because he said there was no peace talks on the agenda for the moment. Although he referred to a peace conference that could take place in the coming weeks but he did not provide any details."

He says both sides seem to be heading towards military confrontation⁸.

"We know that both sides are still ready to fight and we do not see any initiative to restore peace in the region for the moment."

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has increased the size of its medical team in the South in an effort to fight an Ebola epidemic⁹ which has killed over 100 people.

Health officials say they are desperately¹⁰ looking for an additional 100 people who are thought to have been in contact with the highly contagious¹¹ virus.

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 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。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

6 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

7 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

8 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

9 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

10 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

11 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。