VOA标准英语2011-International Community Expresses Concern

The United States and the European Union are among those appealing for calm in Albania, after at least three people were killed and dozens were injured in anti-government protests in the capital Tirana. Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha says he will not allow a similar overthrow¹ of his government as in Tunisia, but the opposition² has vowed³ more demonstrations⁴.

The Tirana diplomatic missions of the European Union, United States and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe say in a joint⁵ statement that they deeply regret the casualties in Friday's anti-government protests.

They also call for a compromise. That seems difficult.

Supporters of the opposition Socialists⁷ accuse the government of financial wrong doing and vote rigging during the 2009 elections. Tensions further increased this week when the country's deputy prime minister, Ilir Meta, resigned amid an alleged⁸ corruption⁹ scandal.

Albania's Prime Minister Sali Berisha has accused his opponents of attempting a "Tunisia-style uprising," a reference to the bloody¹⁰ overthrow of Tunisia's president in which scores were killed. 

Mr. Berisha says Albania will not pass into a similar "state of emergency." He has told Albanians in televised remarks that "scenarios¹¹ of violence will not be tolerated."

But those watching the recent demonstrations have already described them as the worst violence to erupt in the volatile¹² Balkan nation in over a decade.

Video footage of Friday's protest shows that shots are fired as security forces try to push back an estimated 20,000 demonstrators.

Protesters shout words such as "get out, get out" as they gather outside Conservative Prime Minister Berisha's office in the capital. Other protesters carry red-and-black Albanian flags.

A tense calm has returned to the streets of Tirana. But the leader of the Socialist⁶ Party, Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, says the opposition will hold more demonstrations after observing a day of mourning for those who died.

Rama has made clear he does not want to wait till the scheduled elections in 2013. He says the opposition will not tolerate what he calls "an intolerable regime" of thieves ruling Europe's poorest nation.

The stand-off has underscored international concerns over the country's democratic credentials¹³. The European Union already rejected Albania's application to become an official candidate to join the organization, saying it should first fight corruption and establish a functioning democracy

1 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

2 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。

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

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 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

7 socialists   

社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The socialists saw themselves as true heirs of the Enlightenment. 社会主义者认为自己是启蒙运动的真正继承者。
• The Socialists junked dogma when they came to office in 1982. 社会党人1982年上台执政后，就把其政治信条弃之不顾。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

11 scenarios   

n.[意]情节；剧本；事态；脚本

参考例句：

• Further, graphite cores may be safer than non-graphite cores under some accident scenarios. 再者，根据一些事故解说，石墨堆芯可比非石墨堆芯更安全一些。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Again, scenarios should make it clear which modes are acceptable to users in various contexts. 同样，我们可以运用场景剧本来搞清楚在不同情境下哪些模式可被用户接受。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

12 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。

13 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。