VOA标准英语2008年-US in Diplomatic Push to End Kenya Violence

By David Gollust
State Department
02 January 2008

The State Department says the United States is engaged in a wide-ranging diplomatic effort to try to end election-related political violence in Kenya. U.S. officials are making direct appeals to President Mwai Kibaki and opposition¹ chief Raila Odinga, and are urging Kenya's neighbors to do the same. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

The Bush administration is trying not to take sides in the Kenya election dispute. But is trying to maximize pressure on both sides to reach an accommodation and end post-election violence that has killed more that 300 people and threatens to split one of Africa's most stable countries along ethnic² lines.

After a telephone conversation late Tuesday with British Foreign Secretary David Milliband, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her British counterpart issued a joint³ statement calling on all Kenyan political leaders to "engage in a spirit of compromise that puts the democratic interests of Kenya first."

Rice followed that up Wednesday with a direct telephone appeal to Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, and scheduled a similar call to President Kibaki. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said she was asking both to do everything they possibly can to come to some reconciliation⁴ and end the political tensions that have given rise to violence.

"What needs to happen now is that within the confines of Kenyan democracy, and their laws and constitution, that you have a political settlement of this," he said. "Surely, while the differences may be great between these two political parties and these two individuals, they can on behalf of their country and in the best interests of their country, come up with a political settlement."

McCormack said U.S. diplomats⁵ are also urging Kenya's neighbors and the African Union to intercede⁶, so that the two leaders "feel the pressure from all sides" to make an accommodation.

Early returns from the December 27 presidential vote had shown opposition leader Odinga in the lead. Violence broke out during the weekend after voting tallies⁷ were mysteriously delayed in key districts, and election authorities declared Mr. Kibaki the winner.

The State Department Sunday congratulated the president on his apparent re-election but later rescinded⁸ the comment as European Union and other observers reported irregularities in the vote-count.

Under questioning Wednesday, McCormack declined to say whether the United States recognizes a Kibaki victory and said if there was manipulation of the vote-count, authorities need to deal with it in accordance with Kenyan laws.

"The Kenyan political process has unfolded as it will," he said. "It is not for us to play a role as a supra-electoral commission or try to play a judicial⁹ role in this particular matter. We are where we are, and what is most urgent right now is that there be some political steps, within the political arena¹⁰, to try to bridge differences to stop this killing¹¹."

McCormack said while the United States supports the right of political expression, it is not for him to say whether the mass rally planned by opposition leader Odinga in Nairobi Thursday should be held. The Kibaki government says it has banned the gathering¹² for security reasons.

The State Department issued a notice Monday urging American travelers to Kenya to strongly consider the risks of visiting there because of the "volatile¹³" situation.

McCormack however said the U.S. embassy in Nairobi was open for business Wednesday and will review the security situation day-by-day.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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》

6 intercede   

vi.仲裁，说情

参考例句：

• He was quickly snubbed when he tried to intercede.当他试着说情时很快被制止了。
• At a time like that there has to be a third party to intercede.这时候要有个第三者出来斡旋。

7 tallies   

n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合

参考例句：

• Cash on hand tallies with the figure in the accounts. 现款跟账上的数目没有出入。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He tallies his own marks. 他把自己的得分记了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 rescinded   

v.废除，取消( rescind的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Rescinded civil acts shall be null and void from the very beginning. 被撤销的民事行为从行为开始起无效。 来自互联网
• They accepted his advice and rescinded the original plan. 他们听从了他的劝告，撤销了原计划。 来自互联网

9 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

10 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

12 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

13 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。