新西兰英语 659 New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister at UN

 　　The Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, gave a 15 minute speech to the General Assembly at the United Nations on Saturday. He made two main points about the Security Council. The first point was about Syria. He said the UN is not doing enough to stop the killings¹ in Syria. He blamed this on the power of veto used by Russia and China. The United Nations wants sanctions against the Syrian government but needs all five permanent members of the Security Council to approve this. Russia and China refused to vote for sanctions.

　　The other point Murray McCully made was that New Zealand leads the Pacific Island Forum² at the moment. We are close to the Pacific countries and are doing a good job of helping³ them. Mr McCully was trying show that New Zealand would be a good choice as a non-permanent member country of the Security Council for 2015/ 16.

　　Australia is hoping to be chosen in October this year for non-permanent membership of the Security Council for 2013 and 14.

　　The Security Council of the UN has 15 members. Five of these are permanent: France, Britain, USA, Russia and China. They can use their power of veto. Ten member countries serve for two years. They cannot veto UN resolutions.

　　Vocabulary

　　blame them – it is their fault

　　veto – the right to say ‘No’ to a possible law

　　sanctions – penalty e.g. refuse to trade with that country

　　permanent – forever

　　non-permanent – temporary

　　approve – say ‘Yes’

　　resolutions – a court decision

　　Question

　　Why does a country (e.g. Australia or New Zealand) want to be a member of the Security Council?

1 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。