VOA常速英语2008年-Raul Castro Picked as Cuba's President

By Brian Wagner
Miami
24 February 2008

Cuba's leadership has chosen Raul Castro to become the nation's president, after nearly 50 years of leadership by his brother Fidel. VOA's Brian Wagner has this report from Miami.

Cuba's National Assembly confirmed the transfer of power to Raul Castro, from his brother, Fidel. Officials announced the decision at a meeting Sunday to select the 31 members of the governing Council of State, which includes the presidency¹.

Raul told delegates in the 614-member assembly that he will continue his brother's work to lead the Communist nation.

Raul said he accepted the responsibility placed upon him, adding that Fidel can never be replaced.

The 76-year-old Raul had been serving as acting² president since July 2006, when his brother temporarily handed over power to undergo intestinal³ surgery. Last week, Cuban state media published a letter from Fidel Castro, saying he would not stand for re-election as president because he remains⁴ frail⁵ following the operation.

At the start of Sunday's assembly meeting, delegates applauded when Fidel's name was called, but state television showed his chair was empty. The 81-year-old has not been seen in public since his operation.

Since taking over temporary power, Raul Castro has called for a national debate to find ways to strengthen the Communist state, improve economic activity and correct income inequality.

In a statement early Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on the Cuban government to begin a process of peaceful and democratic change, including the release of political prisoners. She said the Cuban people have a right to hold democratic elections and to engage in a dialogue about the island's future after what she called "five decades of tyranny."

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 intestinal   

adj.肠的；肠壁；肠道细菌

参考例句：

• A few other conditions are in high intestinal obstruction. 其它少数情况是高位肠梗阻。 来自辞典例句
• This complication has occasionally occurred following the use of intestinal antiseptics. 这种并发症偶而发生在使用肠道抗菌剂上。 来自辞典例句

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 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。