VOA标准英语2009年-Afghan Election Commission Rejects Karzai Reque

Afghanistan's election committee has rejected President Hamid Karzai's request to move up the date for presidential elections to late April. In a widely anticipated announcement in Kabul, the committee said it still considers August 20 as the ideal time for safely holding free and fair elections.
　
Afghan President Hamid Karzai

President Karzai provoked a storm of controversy¹ this week after he called for moving up the polls by more than four months.

Both the United Nations and the United States strongly recommended sticking to the August 20 date to ensure the best conditions for conducting safe and fair polls.

On Tuesday, election commission chief Azizullah Ludin said the commission has decided² to continue with that original date. He spoke³ in Dari, while a fellow commission member translated.

"Our study shows that if we conduct the election in the spring, because of the climate situation and poor infrastructure⁴ it will be very difficult to provide equal opportunity for all citizens to participate freely," he said.

The United Nations Envoy⁵ to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, released a statement praising the decision to reaffirm the August 20 date. Eide said it is critical the elections be seen as transparent⁶ and credible⁷ and the United Nations will do everything it can to ensure they are.

Last year Afghan officials across the political spectrum⁸, including President Karzai, acknowledged the difficulty in holding spring elections, because of the extensive preparation that would have to occur during the harsh winters.

In January, the election commission announced the August 20 date. But last Saturday, President Karzai suddenly announced he wanted the election to be in full compliance⁹ with Afghanistan's constitution, which requires a poll before the president retires from office on May 21.

Political opponents of Mr. Karzai quickly denounced his announcement as a ploy¹⁰ to take advantage of the benefits of his political office during his campaign. They have demanded he step down at the end of his term.

It is now unclear who will be president between the end of Mr. Karzai's term and the election. Some politicians have suggested having parliament appoint an interim¹¹ president until a new one is elected in August.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

6 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

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 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

9 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

10 ploy   

n.花招，手段

参考例句：

• I think this is just a government ploy to deceive the public.我认为这只是政府欺骗公众的手段。
• Christmas should be a time of excitement and wonder,not a cynical marketing ploy.圣诞节应该是兴奋和美妙的时刻，而不该是一种肆无忌惮的营销策略。

11 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。