VOA常速英语2013--叙利亚化学武器难以在限定期限内销毁

 

Deadline on Syria Chemical Weapons Unlikely to be Met 叙利亚化学武器难以在限定期限内销毁

International efforts to remove and destroy Syria's chemical weapons are hitting more roadblocks.  December 31 for the most deadly chemicals to ship out of the country  is fast approaching but many of those toxins¹ have not yet been transported.

Norwegian ships off the coast of Cyprus waiting for the call to head to Syria to pick up some of the world's most dangerous cargo², chemical weapons, like those blamed  for the deadly attack on civilians³ in August.

离开塞浦路斯的挪威船只等待着命令驶向叙利亚检查一些世界上最危险货物的，比如那些被指责为8月份致命攻击平民的化学武器。

But the ongoing⁴ fighting has made getting the toxins to the port of Latakia difficult.

但持续的战事使得有毒物质难以到达拉塔基亚港。

Sigrid Kaag is with the Organization for the Prohibition⁵ of Chemical Weapons:

禁止化学武器组织的西格丽德·卡格说道:

"Security, I think all parties agree, that this is of course a big concern, always,

“我认为各方都同意安全问题,当然这是个大问题,总是这样,

but it also impacts the safety of any convoy⁶ and the safety of any effort," said Kaag.

而且也影响着任何车队和各方努力的安全。”卡格说道。

The OPCW has been warning for days that transport of the most critical chemicals before December 31 is unlikely.

禁化武组织数天来一直警告12月31日之前至关重要的化学物质运输已经不可能实现。

For now, the delay is not raising concern in Washington, which characterized the deadline as ambitious.

现在,这一延迟并没有引起华盛顿方面的关注,仍然认为能够赶上截止日期的人大有人在。

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf:

国务院发言人玛丽·哈弗说道:

"As long as we see foward progress that's what's most importnant here, and we have," said Harf.

“只要我们看到前进进步那就是这里最重要的事情。”哈弗说道。

The agreement with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad does not call for eliminating all chemical weapons until the end of June.

与叙利亚总统巴沙尔·阿萨德的协议并没有要求在6月底消除所有化学武器。

Yet some experts worry the longer it takes to eliminate Syria's arsenal⁷, the greater the danger.

然而,一些专家担心需要消除叙利亚化武的时间越长就会越危险。

Andrew Tabler is at the Washington Institute.

华盛顿研究所的安德鲁·泰布勒说道:

"President Assad knows very well that his usefulness to the international community rapidly drops off as soon as he gives up those chemical weapons.

“阿萨德总统非常清楚只要放弃这些化学武器，他对于国际社会的利用会迅速降低。

I think he has an interest in dragging this out," said Tabler.

我认为他有拖延的兴趣,” 泰布勒说道。

Just one more worry as the international community tries to end the bloodshed and, eventually, to rid Syria of chemical weapons.

随着国际社会试图结束流血冲突,最终清除叙利亚的化学武器，只会有一方会感到越发担心。

1 toxins   

n.毒素( toxin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The seas have been used as a receptacle for a range of industrial toxins. 海洋成了各种有毒工业废料的大容器。
• Most toxins are naturally excreted from the body. 大部分毒素被自然排出体外。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。

6 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

7 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。