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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The United States on Monday cut off funding to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, after the body voted to accept a bid for full membership by the Palestinians.
State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland called the vote "regrettable" and "premature," saying it undermines the "shared goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting1 peace in the Middle East."
Nuland told reporters that although the United States remains2 committed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and to multilateral engagement across the U.N. system, the vote would have immediate3 consequences.
"Palestinian membership as a state in UNESCO triggers long-standing legislative4 restrictions5, which will compel the United States to refrain from making contributions to UNESCO," said Nuland.
Nuland said the United States will not make a $60 million payment to UNESCO in November as planned. Still, she said, the United States would maintain its membership in the organization.
U.S. lawmakers have placed restrictions on financial support for any U.N.-affiliated body that accepts Palestinian membership before an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord is reached. The United States promotes the goal of a two-state solution reached through direct negotiations6.
One-hundred-seven UNESCO delegates voted in favor of the Palestinian bid. The State Department's Victoria Nuland said the United States has made its disapproval7 clear to those countries, adding that U.S. officials are trying to prevent this from happening again.
"We're certainly making the point directly to the Palestinians and to the voting members of other organizations that we don't see any benefit and we see considerable potential damage if this move is replicated8 in other U.N. organizations," she said.
Nuland said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken to U.S. lawmakers and has organized a team to speak to Congress about the restrictions and options to protect U.S. interests.
According to UNESCO's constitution, if a country is in arrears9 in its payments to UNESCO for more than two years, it could lose its voting rights in the body.
The funding cuts could also have implications for the U.N. body because the United States provides 22 percent of UNESCO's budget.
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1
lasting
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adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持 | |
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2
remains
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n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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3
immediate
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adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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4
legislative
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n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 | |
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5
restrictions
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约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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6
negotiations
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协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过 | |
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7
disapproval
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n.反对,不赞成 | |
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8
replicated
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复制( replicate的过去式和过去分词 ); 重复; 再造; 再生 | |
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9
arrears
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n.到期未付之债,拖欠的款项;待做的工作 | |
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