VOA标准英语2009年-US Cautious on Zimbabwean Unity Government

The United States said it is withholding¹ judgment² on whether the unity³ government accord approved Thursday by Zimbabwe's parliament will lead to real power-sharing between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai. The State Department said it is too soon to talk about dropping sanctions against the Mugabe government.
　
Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamas (C) moves motion in parliament to pass constitutional amendment⁴ bill in Harare, 05 Feb 2009

Though the approval of constitutional changes enabling the unity government produced scenes of jubilation⁵ in Zimbabwe's parliament, the reaction here was reserved - with U.S. officials saying it remains⁶ to be seen if the development leads to credible⁷ power-sharing.

The deal would make Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai - whose party won parliamentary elections last year - prime minister, and bring other opposition⁸ figures into the government in which Mr. Mugabe would remain head of state.

The United States and European allies had been skeptical⁹ since power-sharing negotiations¹⁰ began last September that the long-time president would yield real powers.

At a news briefing, State Department Acting¹¹ Spokesman Robert Wood made clear that the Obama administration remains cautious, saying "we will have to see" if the new government adopts policies that really reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people.

"We can only have real, true effective government in Zimbabwe if it is a government that respects the will of its people, and takes care to address the very serious concerns of the Zimbabwean people. And that's what we want to see happen. That's what others in the international community want to see happen. And we'll follow this and see if there is a government that addresses the real serious issues facing its people," Wood said.
　
Robert Mugabe (file photo)

The United States and European allies have in recent years imposed targeted financial and economic sanctions against Mr. Mugabe and close associates over human rights and electoral abuses.

Wood said the United States is in touch with allied¹² governments about the future of the sanctions regime. But he put no time frame on sanctions decisions and said concerned countries will "first and foremost" want to see how the new government is formed and what decisions it makes.

Earlier this week, the State Department issued a written statement saying the United States will only consider new development aid and an easing of targeted sanctions when it has "seen evidence" of true power sharing as well as inclusive and effective governance.

It stressed that the United States will continue providing humanitarian¹³ aid to the Zimbabwean people in what was termed "their time of suffering." The country is facing a cholera¹⁴ epidemic¹⁵ and near-total economic breakdown¹⁶ blamed here on mis-rule by Mr. Mugabe.

1 withholding   

扣缴税款

参考例句：

• She was accused of withholding information from the police. 她被指控对警方知情不报。
• The judge suspected the witness was withholding information. 法官怀疑见证人在隐瞒情况。

2 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

3 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。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 jubilation   

n.欢庆，喜悦

参考例句：

• The goal was greeted by jubilation from the home fans.主场球迷为进球欢呼。
• The whole city was a scene of jubilation.全市一片欢腾。

6 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。

7 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

8 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。

9 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

10 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。

11 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。

12 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

13 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

14 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

15 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

16 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。