VOA标准英语2009年-Madagascar Leader Calls Parliamentary

The head of Madagascar's transitional authority, Andry Rajoelina, announced on national television that elections would be held on March 20 for a new parliament which would choose the next prime minister and draft a new constitution.

Scott Bobb 17 December 2009

Andry Rajoelina (file photo)

Madagascar's leader Andry Rajoelina has called for parliamentary elections after rejecting negotiations¹ aimed at ending the crisis caused by his military-backed take-over of the country earlier this year.

The head of Madagascar's transitional authority, Andry Rajoelina, announced on national television that elections would be held on March 20 for a new parliament which would choose the next prime minister and draft a new constitution.

Rajoelina said he was asking the international community to no longer involve itself in Madagascar's problems because a solution would only come from the elections.

The 35-year-old former mayor of Antananarivo did not mention presidential elections. Madagascar's current constitution requires a president to be at least 40 years old.

Rajoelina took power last March after former President Marc Ravalomanana left the country. The military-backed hand over followed months of sometimes violent confrontations³ between supporters of the two politicians.

The African Union and Southern African Development Community refuse to recognize the Rajoelina government saying it is the result of a coup⁴ d'etat. They have suspended Madagascar from their organizations.

International mediators have since brokered⁵ several power sharing arrangements between the two rivals and two other former presidents, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.

An accord reached several months ago called for three co-presidents and the distribution of Cabinet ministries⁶ among the four groups.

The three former presidents met in Maputo ten days ago and divided up the posts, leaving some vacant for Rajeolina's group.

But Rajoelina rejected the meeting as an attempted coup and has blocked the leaders from returning home.

Mr. Ravalomanana told reporters in Pretoria, where the groups are staying, that Rajoelina's actions were unacceptable.

He says you cannot prevent Malagasy citizens from entering or leaving their country. He says the situation is due to the illegal regime and will have long-term consequences.

The confrontation² between the two leaders began one year ago. It has disrupted the economy, slowed foreign investment and caused a suspension of most non-humanitarian aid.

 

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 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。

3 confrontations   

n.对抗，对抗的事物( confrontation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At times, this potential has escalated into actual confrontations. 有时，这一矛盾升级为实际的对抗。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• These confrontations and uncertainties were bing played out for the first time on a global scale. 所有这一切对抗和不稳定，第一次在全球范围内得到充分的表演。 来自辞典例句

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 brokered   

adj.由权力经纪人安排（或控制）的v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的过去式和过去分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• a peace plan brokered by the UN 由联合国出面协商的和平计划
• Your husband brokered the deal to go in, transfrer the assets and get our man out. 你丈夫后来插了一脚，把生意都抢了过去，我们的人也被挤了出来。 来自电影对白

6 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。