VOA标准英语2012--Challenges Remain for Kosovo, Four Years After Declaring Independence

Challenges Remain for Kosovo, Four Years After Declaring Independence

When Prime Minister Hashim Thaci read Kosovo's declaration of independence, in 2008, there were fears that independence would have destabilizing effects on the region. So far, those have not materialized.
Former diplomat¹ Morton Abramowitz, at the Century Foundation, said there has been positive progress toward state and institution building. But he said other problems will not be solved any time soon, including the situation in the Serbian-populated North.
“The North is not going to be resolved in any short time period. The EU [European Union] plays with it, the Americans are sort of out, Kosovo depends on the foreigners to resolve the problem, and the Serbs are unable to come to grips with the loss of Kosovo,” said Abramowitz.
Since July, for example, Serbs along Kosovo's border with Serbia have been setting up roadblocks - after Kosovo's ethnic² Albanian-dominated government tried to take control of the border region, which is under de-facto Serb rule.
The events reopened discussions on the status of that area and have disrupted bilateral³ talks on technical issues between Belgrade and Prishtina.
“The one good thing about the recent dust-up is that the Kosovo government has made it clear, or has been effective, in getting the West to recognize that the North is part of Kosovo and that has been a significant achievement," said Abramowitz.
It also has affected⁴ Serbia's chances to join the European Union.
To date, the lack of progress in relationships with Kosovo, has marred⁵ Belgrade’s prospects⁶. But Serbia's domestic political situation, with elections coming up in the spring, makes it more difficult for Belgrade to do anything that could alienate⁷ those voters who still consider Kosovo as part of Serbia.
Eighty-seven countries, including the United States, have recognized Kosovo’s independence. But Serbia claims the move is illegal and is supported by Russia, a permanent U.N. Security Council member with veto power.
The European Union itself is divided with five of its members not recognizing independence. Alex Grigorev, of the Council for Inclusive Governance, said Kosovo has to work to convince these countries, no matter what else happens.
“Because I do not see any future for Kosovo without membership into the European Union, and those five members have to be worked on,” said Grigorev.
There are other problems besides relations with Serbia. Unemployment is at 45 percent. There is pervasive⁸ corruption⁹. Also, war crimes investigations¹⁰ against high-profile public figures have been marred by reports of witness intimidation¹¹.
By and large, though, peace in the region has been preserved.
And in another sign of progress, the country now has its first female President, Atifete Jahjaga.
In fact, the International Steering¹² Group for Kosovo, a 25-member body overseeing its progress, says the supervised phase of independence may end as early as December.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

6 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

7 alienate   

vt.使疏远，离间；转让(财产等)

参考例句：

• His attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith.他离间那两个朋友的企图失败了，因为他们彼此完全信任。
• We'd better not alienate ourselves from the colleagues.我们最好还是不要与同事们疏远。

8 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

9 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。

10 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

11 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

12 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。