VOA常速英语2008年-Bush to Underscore US Commitment to Africa

By Paula Wolfson
White House
13 February 2008

President Bush will set the stage for his upcoming trip to Africa in a speech Thursday morning in Washington.  VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.

This will be the president's second trip to Africa.  And the speech is expected to lay out his position on the issues he will raise with African leaders.

White House National Security Advisor¹ Stephen Hadley says the trip will underscore America's commitment to the region - starting with the efforts to fight dangerous diseases and foster economic growth and development.

"There is more hope in Africa and the American people can be proud that many of our innovative² programs are making a real difference," he said.

The president's travels will take him to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia.  Along the way, he will visit medical facilities, job training centers, and small businesses.

Hadley says the president's talks with leaders in these countries will also focus on efforts to resolve ongoing³ conflicts in Africa, including the crisis in Kenya.   He says the White House considers the situation in Kenya to be a matter of great concern and a great tragedy.

"Unfortunately, what is happening in Kenya is a step backward," he added.  "What needs to happen is pretty clear.  We have been very actively⁴ engaged in our diplomacy⁵ there in supporting what Kofi Annan is doing.  The first step is for the parties to agree to stop the violence, the second step is to facilitate humanitarian⁶ assistance, and third, work out a power-sharing arrangement."

During a session with reporters, Hadley indicated the president will mention Kenya in Thursday's address at the National Museum of African Art.  He indicated there will also be comments about the bloodshed in Sudan's Darfur region, noting there has been progress there, but the president believes it has been far too slow.

1 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

2 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

3 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。

4 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

5 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

6 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。