VOA常速英语2008年-Signs of Progress in Kenya Power-Sharing Talks

By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
21 February 2008

Negotiations¹ aimed at resolving Kenya's political deadlock² are showing signs of progress, as the government and opposition³ party discuss a power-sharing arrangement built on the creation of an office of prime minister.  Derek Kilner reports from Nairobi, where negotiators say they expect an agreement to be reached in a few days.

Government negotiator Mutula Kilonzo told reporters the government had agreed to the creation of an office of prime minister, but that the powers the office would hold have not been worked out.

The creation of the prime minister position has been a key demand of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement, whose leader Raila Odinga would likely take the job.

President Mwai Kibaki's team had earlier said any power-sharing arrangement must follow the current constitution, which would not allow a prime minister.  The government appears to have relented on this position, though it remains⁴ unclear what level of power it would accept for the office.  The opposition has called for the prime minister to share executive powers with the president.

Speaking outside the negotiations, which are set to resume Friday, Kilonzo said he expected an agreement would be reached in the next few days.

"I think at the very latest by the end of the weekend.  We have resolved that if we do not finish tomorrow, we work over the weekend.  Even if you have looked at my friends from ODM ... walking out, they have been walking with a smile, everybody has a smile," Kilonzo said.

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who is leading the mediation⁵ effort, issued a statement saying he is "beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel."  There have been previous moments during the negotiations when a deal had seemed imminent⁶, but failed to materialize. The mediation effort is in its third week.

Even if a solution is reached soon, Kenya will still face a challenge in avoiding a return to the unrest that killed some 1000 people following a disputed presidential election on December 27.

The International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based analysis organization, released a report saying negotiations aimed at tackling the broader issues underlying⁷ the violence - including economic policy, constitutional reform, and the disbandment of militias⁸ - must begin immediately.

1 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。

2 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

3 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。

4 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。

5 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

6 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

7 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

8 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网