CNN 2011-09-25

 Hey, there, hope you had a great weekend, I'm C.A. This week in the United Nations, there is a big meeting scheduled to take place at the annual gathering¹ of the UN general assembly. That's factoring into two of our top stories today. The first of those stories, Greek prime minister George P.D. says he is postponing² his trip to the United States. P.D. was scheduled to speak at the UN meeting, but he says he needs to stay in Greece instead to focus on the nation's ongoing³ financial crisis. As we mentioned last week, there are fears that Greece won't be able to pay its debts, and that's taking a major toll⁴ on stock markets in Europe and the United States. P.D. says this week is an especially important time for Greece to act on agreement it made with the Europe Union back in July, that's when Greece got a second round of bailout of money, because EU leaders were afraid of its financial problems would spill over into other European countries.

Just the facts. In 1947, the United Nations put forward a plan to divide a middle eastern area known as Palestine. One part was becoming an Arab country, another a Jewish country called Israel. The Arabs did't accept the decision to divide the land. A series of wars broke up between them and Israel. Israel won these wars and there have been tensions between Israel and the Palestinians ever since.

Now, Palestinians want a state of their own. And on Friday, Palestinian authority president M.B announced he is going to push for full UN membership during the general assembly meeting this week. Israel says that that move could complicate⁶ the middle east peace process. Right now, Palestinians are considered observers at the UN. Richard Roth explains what full UN member would mean and where things could go from here.

The nations of the world got yet another reminder⁷ from the Palestinians of their desire for a state of their own. A symbolic⁸ siege from Palestine was flown in arriving in New York and UN headquarters, accompanied by activists⁹ in Palestine and UN delegate. Despite heavy pressure before the upcoming general assembly debate, achieving statehood on the world stage is not as easy as staging a photo op.

The is the potential first stop for the Palestinians to apply for UN member, this is the UN security council though this chamber¹⁰ may pose the toughest obstacle to potential Palestinian membership. Under the rules of the organization and the UN charter, the Palestinians must first get approval from the security council in order to obtain membership and get their flag outside the building. However, in our room are permanent members of the security council who have veto power, and one of them, the United States has vowed¹¹ to deny any request for potential membership.

The only way of getting a lasting¹² solution is through direct negotiations¹³ between the parties and the route to that lies in Jerusalem and Ramala, not in New York.

If they want to avoid the US veto, the Palestinians are very likely to come here, next doors, at the UN general assembly already full of 193 countries.

If one road is blocked, we will follow another one, but the objective is still the same. And as they say, there are many roads to lead to Roman, and we know that very well, and we will act according to it.

The Palestinians already have a seat here at the general assembly, but their status is just simply known as observer. The assembly may grant them upgraded observer state status, not for membership though, but they may get more rights, which will allow them to join other US style international organization, but their status would be on par⁵ with the Vatican. So in a fact, their prayers to get a full UN member state would not be granted.

With upgraded the diplomatic status, the Palestinians may be able to demand actions against Israel of the international criminal court. The Palestine chair could a hot seat for other UN members. Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 postponing   

v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He tried to gain time by postponing his decision. 他想以迟迟不作决定的手段来争取时间。 来自辞典例句
• I don't hold with the idea of postponing further discussion of the matter. 我不赞成推迟进一步讨论这件事的想法。 来自辞典例句

3 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。

4 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

5 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

6 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

7 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

8 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

11 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

12 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

13 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。