VOA标准英语2009年-European Union Urges Immediate Release of

The European Union is urging Burma to immediately release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. European and Asian foreign ministers are meeting in Hanoi this week to discuss cooperation on a range of issues. EU leaders are also asking Asian countries to push Burma towards democratic reform.

The Asia-Europe meeting brings together representatives of more than 40 nations to discuss cooperation between the regions.

Economic cooperation was expected to be at the top of the agenda, but the imminent¹ sentencing of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has made her trial a timely concern.
　
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU commissioner² for external relations, speaks during the opening ceremony of ASEM FMs' Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, 25 May 2009

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told journalists in Bangkok she would personally push Burma, also known as Myanmar, on the issue.

"I will most probably, in the form of a troika, see the Foreign Minister of Myanmar now in Hanoi," she said. "It is in principle for seeing, so you can imagine that we will pass on very clearly our message and that is of course a release of all prisoners and foremost also Aung San Suu Kyi, and not using any pretexts³ to have her in prison any longer."

Despite growing pressure to release her, Burma's military government appears determined⁴ to keep Aung San Suu Kyi locked up.

Thailand, which holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, last week issued a statement expressing "grave concern" about her treatment.

The statement said the trial put Burma's "honor and credibility" on the line and was the strongest ASEAN comment to date against Burma.

Ferrero-Waldner says the European Union wants to see more pressure on Burma.

"I think it is the most important, therefore I appeal to all the neighboring countries that the neighboring countries particularly, commit themselves to engage with this government in such a way that there be changes, because China, India and of course ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries, they are the real neighbors here," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner. "They work with the country, and therefore they have the best influence."

Burma's military government has rejected all criticism of the trial.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been kept under house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years and is on trial for violating the terms of her arrest.

Earlier this month, she allowed an American man who snuck into her house to stay for two days without official permission.

The man, John Yettaw, and two of Aung San Suu Kyi's aids are also on trial.

The charges are widely seen as an excuse to keep the Nobel Peace Prize winner locked up through next year's elections.

Her National League for Democracy Party won Burma's last elections in 1990, but the military never let them take power.

If Aung San Suu Kyi is found guilty, she could be imprisoned⁵ for up to five years along with the more than 2,000 other political prisoners in Burma.

1 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

2 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

3 pretexts   

n.借口，托辞( pretext的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• On various pretexts they all moved off. 他们以各种各样的借口纷纷离开了。 来自辞典例句
• Pretexts and appearances no longer deceive us. 那些托辞与假象再也不会欺骗我们了。 来自辞典例句

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。