日语 | 韩语 | 法语 | 西班牙语 | 可可地盘 | 手机版 | 可可培训
每日英语 | 练功房 | 网络学院 | 论坛 | 导航
   在线英语口语学习 | 测试:"摇钱树"怎么说?
·您现在的位置: 可可英语 >> 在线广播 >> VOA常速英语 >> 2010年1月VOA常速英语 >> 正文
VOA常速:Britain to Host International Conference on Afghanistan
时间:2010-1-27 10:38:48  来源:可可英语  作者:qihui   测测英语水平如何 | 挑生词: 

Britain to Host International Conference on Afghanistan

Britain hosts a one-day international conference on Afghanistan this week to try to forge a common strategy to improve security, good governance and development in the war-torn south Asian nation.  There is growing concern about deteriorating conditions on the ground as allies look for an exit strategy.

It has been eight years since a U.S.-led force toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, ushering in hope for stability, greater freedom and development.

But, that has been hard to come by.  In London, Ahmad Farid Mall has been watching closely as events unfolded in his homeland and he frequently talks with relatives back in Kunduz in northeastern Afghanistan.

"I had information from my relatives in Kunduz that they are thinking to leave the country.  They are not feeling safe.  Every day there are one or two incidents in the city when people are killed, when people are shot," he said.

Mall fled Afghanistan in 1998 and finally settled with his family in London.  There has not been much good news from back home - continued fighting and insurgent attacks.

Lack of security is a major issue and the key is training the Afghan forces, says security analyst Christopher Langton at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

"Our combat troops - what they are doing is sort of holding the line so that the Afghan security forces can be built and their capacity can be developed," he said.

Langton says there has been progress, but to make it sustainable will take time.

AP
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband speaks during a press conference in London 9File)



Another key element is to try and bring in Taliban insurgents willing to join the government side, says Britain's Foreign Secretary David Milliband.

"We know it is vital that there is full support for the reintegration of insurgents who are willing to live by the Afghan constitution, defend communities rather than attacking them," said miliband.

But security is not the only issue, a just released U.N. report says Afghans see corruption as an even bigger problem.

Speaking in London, the head of the U.N. office on drugs and crime, Antonia Maria Costa, discussed the findings.

"Corruption is the biggest problem the Afghan people perceive today - even greater than insecurity or poverty," she said.

Costa says the amount of money going into the pockets of corrupt officials equals about one quarter of the country's gross domestic product - to the tune of $2.5 billion.

Security and good governance are vital if development is to take hold, say analysts and those are the issues on the table in London when leaders, ministers and senior officials meet.

But there have been numerous conferences about Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted in late 2001 and billions of dollars have been pledged and spent to help rebuild the country.  In addition, the United States and its allies have more than 100,000 troops to fend off a growing insurgency.  And with a rising death toll among the soldiers, public opinion for staying on in Afghanistan is waning, including in Britain and the United States.

Shoring up support is vital says Christopher Langton.

"Refreshing weakening international political will is going to be a major part of this conference,"  he said.

General consensus is this conference has to come up with a common strategy to move forward and pave the way for an exit strategy.

Ahmad Farid Mall says something has to change.

"I think my people are tired and we cannot have this war, insecurity forever.  I am afraid it can get worse," he said.

Mall says he would like to return home.  He keeps hoping he might do so soon, but is not so sure that will happen.

听了本文的读者还听了
网友评论:(显示最新10条)


最新在线英语广播
VOA慢速听写训练
VOA常速听写训练
BBC新闻听写训练
最新资料下载
可可官方YY群:3265973,每周定期上课,欢迎大家加入 [注:非QQ群,请先下载安装YY工具 了解课程]
Copyright © 2005-2011 www.kekenet.com online services. All rights reserved.Security support by Safe.sh
沪ICP备05032650号
服务器安全 IT外包 服务器租用 dedicated server