VOA标准英语2009年-Restoration of DRC-Uganda Ties Shows New R

The reinstatement of full diplomatic ties last week between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is the latest development signaling a new era in the region's politics, following the DRC's recent willingness to cooperate militarily with its easterly neighbors. Rwanda and the DRC similarly restored full relations in July.

In December last year the DRC permitted Ugandan forces to enter its northeastern territory to try to root out the rebel Lord's Resistance Army.

The exchange of ambassadors between the two countries is the first in nearly 12 years. During this time the two countries maintained their embassies, but had rejected full relations.

Ties between the two countries were seriously strained by the excursion of Ugandan forces into the largely lawless eastern Congo territory to fight rebel groups that were using the area as a safe haven¹.
　
Ugandan State Minister for International Affairs Henry Oryem Okello, addresses a media conference in Kampala (File Photo - 13 Jul 2009)

Ugandan Minister for International Affairs Okello Oryem told VOA the military cooperation late last year against the LRA was the turning point in two country's volatile² relationship.

"These are significant developments by any standard in the relationship we are having with the DRC, which had degenerated³ to a very low level," said Oryem.

The recent course of events bringing fresh links between the two countries closely mirrors the renewal⁴ of relations between the DRC and Rwanda.

Soon after the Congolese military cooperated with Ugandan forces against the LRA, the DRC and Rwanda engaged in joint⁵ military operations against the Hutu rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.

In July Rwanda and DRC formally appointed ambassadors for the first time in more than a decade.

Oryem said that the improvement in bilateral⁶ ties with the DRC took much longer than should have been the case, but said that a variety of factors finally led to the new mindset among the region's players.

"I think that the change in attitude in the leadership, the change in the environment around them, the change in the international diplomacy⁷, all contributed to the timing⁸ now for finally around last year for things to start to take a new course and new developments," he added.

The improved ties between the countries are good news for the region's inhabitants, where sour relations between the DRC and its eastern neighbors had driven instability in the mineral-rich region for more than a decade.

Foreign armed rebel groups have used unstable⁹ eastern Congo as their bases of operations, and both Rwanda and Uganda have supported rebel movements to topple the DRC's government.

In July 2002 Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace agreement that called for the withdrawal¹⁰ of 20,000 Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. A couple of months later, the DRC completed negotiations¹¹ with Uganda to end their respective hostilities¹².

According to Oryem, the renewed relations with the DRC has eased cross-border movement by the region's locals. He says business and trade between the two neighbors has been steadily¹³ rising the past few months.

Earlier this year, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met Congolese President Joseph Kabila on the border to signal a new page in DRC-Uganda relations.

1 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

2 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

3 degenerated   

衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The march degenerated into a riot. 示威游行变成了暴动。
• The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track. 铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄，成了一条崎岖不平的小径。

4 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

10 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

11 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。

12 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

13 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。