VOA常速英语2008年-UN Calls for Strategy to Confront Resilient Tal

By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
12 March 2008

A top U.N. official warns that the insurgency¹ in Afghanistan has been much worse than expected and the U.N.'s mandate² in that country must be sharpened if international efforts there are to succeed.  From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

The U.N.'s chief peacekeeping official, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, told the Security Council Wednesday during a debate on extending the U.N. mandate in Afghanistan, that additional powers are not necessary, but in the face of the fluid situation on the ground, the mandate must be "sharpened."

He cited a difficult and resilient insurgency, weak governmental institutions, corruption³, and the massive illegal drug trade as some of the biggest problems plaguing the country. He said the international community, while committed and generous, has often been insufficiently⁵ united on key policy issues. 

"The U.N. bears a share of the responsibility for the insufficient⁴ coordination⁶ from the international community," he said.  "We recognize, and as I will explain in this presentation, we are working to correct that, but we will need for this the cooperation of all our international and Afghan partners." 

The Security Council is considering a resolution that would extend the mandate of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan for another year. It also lays out the role of the secretary-general's newly appointed special envoy⁷ for Afghanistan, Kai Eide of Norway, who is to head to Kabul soon.

Eide did not address the council, but told reporters strengthened coordination of international civilian⁸ and military activities are critical to progress.

"The coordination issue is the most urgent issue," he said.  "I think there is a strengthened mandate to work on that. Not that coordination has not happened so far, but we need to make an extra effort."

In his latest report on Afghanistan, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned the political transition continues to face serious challenges. He says the Taliban and related armed groups, as well as the thriving drug trade, represent fundamental threats to still-fragile political, economic and social institutions.

1 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

2 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

3 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。

4 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

5 insufficiently   

adv.不够地，不能胜任地

参考例句：

• Your insurance card is insufficiently stamped. 你的保险卡片未贴足印花。 来自辞典例句
• Many of Britain's people are poorly dressed, badly housed, insufficiently nourished. 许多英国人衣着寒伧，居住简陋，营养不良。 来自互联网

6 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

7 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

8 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。