VOA常速英语2008年-Kenya Political Negotiations Suspended

By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
26 February 2008

Negotiations¹ between Kenya's government and the opposition² have been suspended.  As Derek Kilner reports from Nairobi, the two sides have been unable to agree on the terms of a power-sharing arrangement to break the political deadlock³ gripping the country since a disputed presidential election in late December.

The chief mediator⁴ for the talks, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, plans to consult with President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga on how to move the negotiations forward.

President Kibaki's Party of National Unity⁵ has agreed to the creation of a prime minister's office that would be filled by the opposition Orange Democratic Movement, better known as ODM. 

But the two sides have not agreed on how much power a prime minister would have. Nor is there agreement on what level of representation the ODM should have in the cabinet, or on whether new elections should be held if the coalition⁶ collapses⁷.

Speaking after the negotiations adjourned⁸, opposition negotiator Musalia Mudavadi criticized the government.

"We have been extremely frustrated⁹ as ODM, because there are moments we believe we have made ground and we realize the following day there is actually a reversal," Mudavadi said. "We as ODM ceded¹⁰ substantial positions.  The other side is coming from a premise¹¹ that the constitution cannot be touched."

Both sides have agreed to a long-term constitutional review, once a political settlement is reached, but the opposition wants some constitutional amendments¹² now to support a power sharing arrangement.  

Government negotiator Mutula Kilonzo said his side is feeling unduly¹³ pressured in the talks.

"We are not going around in circles," Kilonzo said. "It is just that we have firm positions on both sides.  And the atmosphere for bridging the gap between the two of us is not fair.  As I say, we have tended to feel that we are being railroaded."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who visited Kenya last week, issued a statement saying she is "disappointed by the failure of leadership" in the negotiations, reiterating¹⁴ U.S. support for a political solution.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who currently heads the African Union, is to arrive in Kenya late Tuesday to contribute to the mediation¹⁵ effort.    

The opposition has notified the police of plans for widespread demonstrations¹⁶ on Thursday if no progress is made on the talks.  Mudavadi refused to discuss the protest call.

The government has criticized the proposed demonstrations.  While the opposition has said any action will be peaceful, other protests since the elections have led to looting and provoked violent responses from the police.

Police also said they have arrested around 200 youths who were said to be engaged in military training in Kenya's west.

Last week, the International Crisis Group, a research organization based in Brussels, warned of the ongoing¹⁷ mobilization of armed groups in the country supporting both the government and opposition.  

The authorities say 1,500 people have been killed in violence following December's presidential elections, which the opposition charges were rigged.  The country has returned to relative calm in recent weeks.

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 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。

3 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。

4 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 collapses   

折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下

参考例句：

• This bridge table collapses. 这张桥牌桌子能折叠。
• Once Russia collapses, the last chance to stop Hitler will be gone. 一旦俄国垮台，抑止希特勒的最后机会就没有了。

8 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。

9 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 ceded   

v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Cuba was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898. 古巴在1898年被西班牙割让给美国。
• A third of the territory was ceded to France. 领土的三分之一割让给了法国。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

12 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

13 unduly   

adv.过度地，不适当地

参考例句：

• He did not sound unduly worried at the prospect.他的口气听上去对前景并不十分担忧。
• He argued that the law was unduly restrictive.他辩称法律的约束性有些过分了。

14 reiterating   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He keeps reiterating his innocence. 他一再申明他无罪。
• The Chinese government also sent a note to the British government, reiterating its position. 中国政府同时将此立场照会英国政府。

15 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。

16 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

17 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。