Rice Says Africa Must Step Up on Zimbabwe Election Crisis

赖斯：非洲应加大对津巴布韦压力

　



U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is calling for Zimbabwe's neighbors to step up and press for an end to that country's post-election political crisis. Rice said it is time for Zimbabwe to move on after years of mis-rule by the government of President Robert Mugabe. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's opposition leader is calling for South African President Thabo Mbeki to stop mediating Zimbabwe's crisis.

　

美国国务卿赖斯敦促津巴布韦的邻国加大对津巴布韦的压力，以期结束津巴布韦选举后的政治危机。赖斯说，津巴布韦经过穆加贝政府多年的错误统治，现在应该向前走。

U.S. officials had been privately expressing disappointment with the seeming lack of commitment by southern African countries on the Zimbabwe crisis.

　

美国官员们一直在私下表示，对南部非洲国家在解决津巴布韦危机方面缺乏努力感到失望。

But Rice, in a news conference here, took U.S. concerns public, saying regional organizations like the African Union and the Southern African Development Community need to take the lead in pressing for the release of presidential election returns in Zimbabwe, and if necessary a peaceful transition of power.

　

但是，赖斯在国务院举行的新闻发布会上公开了美国的关切。她说，非洲联盟和南部非洲发展共同体这类地区性组织需要率先施加压力，要求津巴布韦公布总统选举的结果；如果必要，它们还应要求津巴布韦进行和平的权力过渡。

"The longer they hold the results of the election, the more suspicion grows that something is being plotted and planned by the ruling party. And frankly the United States and the European Union and others have spoken out about this and made calls," said Rice. "But it is time for Africa to step up. Where is the concern from the African Union and from Zimbabwe's neighbors about what is going on in Zimbabwe."

　

赖斯说：“津巴布韦当局推迟公布选举结果的时间越长，人们的怀疑就越大。大家怀疑执政党有阴谋计划。直率地讲，美国和欧洲联盟以及其他国家已经坦率地谈到这一点，并且发出了呼吁。现在非洲应该加大压力。非洲联盟和津巴布韦的邻国对津巴布韦局势的关切在哪里？”

Rice said U.S. concerns about the situation have been heightened by new accusations of treason by the Mugabe government against opposition presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangerai, who claims he won the March 29 election.

　

赖斯说，由于穆加贝政府新近指责反对派总统候选人茨万吉拉伊叛国，美国对局势的关切变得更加紧迫。茨万吉拉伊宣称自己在3月29号的大选中获胜。

Rice stopped short of flatly calling for the departure of President Mugabe, who has run the country since independence. But she used her strongest language to date to characterize his administration.

　

赖斯没有直接敦促穆加贝总统下台。自从津巴布韦独立以来，穆加贝一直统治这个国家。但是赖斯用迄今为止最强硬的措辞来形容穆加贝政府。

"Obviously this is a matter for Zimbabwe as to whether he steps down. But I think he has done more harm to his country than would have been imaginable, if you look at what Zimbabwe was 15 just years ago or so," said Rice. "I know the role that he played in liberation of Zimbabwe, but the last years have really been an abomination."

　

赖斯说：“很明显，穆加贝是否下台，这是津巴布韦的事情。但是我认为，穆加贝给他的国家带来的伤害已经超出了人们的想象。如果你回顾津巴布韦15年前的情况就会明白这一点。我知道，穆加贝在津巴布韦解放的过程中发挥了一些作用。但是最近一些年的情况的确令人厌恶。”

Rice said Zimbabwe, once a food exporter, will apparently be requiring a dramatic increase in food aid from the international community.

　

赖斯表示，津巴布韦过去是食品出口国，可是现在这个国家却需要大幅度增加国际社会的食品援助。

She described Zimbabwe as "a country that really needs to move on, and get on with its future."

　

赖斯说，津巴布韦真的需要向前走，需要开始开创自己的未来。