VOA标准英语2008年-Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Calls for Honorable

Zimbabwean opposition¹ leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he hopes negotiations² with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party will allow the veteran leader an honorable exit from power. Tsvangirai made the statement one day after Mr. Mugabe said he was committed to a successful conclusion of the talks. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from our Southern Africa Bureau in Johannesburg.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai Thursday said he hoped negotiations would lead to compromise and a transitional government.

In an interview from Johannesburg on Britain's Channel Four television, Tsvangirai said he believed there was common understanding on the need for a negotiated end to the Zimbabwean crisis through power sharing. But he said any transitional government should last no longer than two years.

He said he met last week with President Robert Mugabe, over dinner, for the first time in years and the two leaders discussed possible pitfalls³ in any future government.

Mr. Mugabe Wednesday said in Harare that the government and ruling ZANU-PF party also supported the talks.

"Speaking for ZANU-PF and myself there is that total commitment to see to the speedy conclusion and successful outcome of the talks," he said.

Mr. Mugabe said the talks were going well but that they were in an initial stage. He said later stages would need the participation⁴ of the two leaders.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has been mediating⁵ talks between the government and opposition aimed at ending a confrontation⁶ that followed a controversial run-off election last month.

Tsvangirai defeated Mr. Mugabe in the first round of the presidential vote but withdrew from the run-off accusing the government of launching a wave of violence in which dozens of opposition leaders and several pro-government activists⁷ were killed.

Mr. Mugabe was declared the winner of the run-off but his victory for the most part has not been recognized internationally. And the new parliament, in which the opposition won a majority of the seats, has not been able to convene⁸.

Mr. Mbeki met Mr. Mugabe Wednesday in Harare and denied reports that the talks had stalemated.

"The talks are progressing," he said. "There naturally are some matters which will require that the negotiators come back to negotiate with the principals."

Tsvangirai in his interview acknowledged there were difficulties but said the negotiations were not deadlocked⁹. They are to resume Sunday in South Africa.

 

 

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 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。

3 pitfalls   

（捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误

参考例句：

• the potential pitfalls of buying a house 购买房屋可能遇到的圈套
• Several pitfalls remain in the way of an agreement. 在达成协议的进程中还有几个隐藏的困难。

4 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

5 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。

6 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

9 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。