VOA慢速英语2015 I Will Work With Putin and Iran, Obama Tells UN

AS IT IS 2015-09-29 I Will Work With Putin and Iran, Obama Tells UN

Speaking at the United Nations, President Barack Obama said he is willing to work with Russia and Iran to end the war in Syria. 

“The United States is prepared to work with any nation, including Russian and Iran, to resolve the conflict, but we must recognize that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the pre-war status quo.”

He said that compromise will be required. Mr. Obama called for “a managed transition” away from Mr. Assad, to a new leader. 

While President Obama called Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “a tyrant,” Russia’s president praised him. President Vladimir Putin says Mr. Assad is the only legitimate¹ government in Syria.

The Russian leader warned that it would be an “enormous mistake” not to cooperate with the Mr. Assad’s government in fighting ISIS. He called for a “broad coalition²” to fight the Islamic State. Mr. Putin said it would be much like the “anti-Hitler” alliance that defeated Germany and Nazism³ in World War II.

Russia recently began a military build-up in Syria, supporting Mr. Assad with military equipment.

Mr. Obama also says the U.S. will continue to go after ISIS, also known as ISIL. He adds:

“I have said before and I will repeat: There is no room for accommodating an apocalyptic⁴ cult⁵ like ISIL, and the United States makes no apology for using our military, as part of a broad coalition, to go after them. We do so with a determination to ensure that there will never be a safe haven⁶ for terrorists who carry out these crimes.”

By going after al Qaeda for more than 10 years, Mr. Obama says the U.S. shows it “will not be outlasted⁷ by extremists.”

Presidents Obama and Putin gave their speeches at the United Nations, before they were to sit down face to face.

When speaking to the General Assembly, Mr. Obama praised the recent nuclear deal made with Iran.  He said the economic sanctions worked against Iran.

“The Iranian people have a proud history, and are filled with extraordinary potential, but chanting death to America does not create jobs.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke⁸ at the U.N. after the U.S. president. He praised the nuclear agreement as a “brilliant example of ‘victory over war.’”

But he had strong words against the U.S. He said the roots of the today’s wars and terrorism is the fault of previous U.S. military actions in the Middle East.

“If we did not have the U.S. military invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, … today the terrorists  would not have an excuse for the justification⁹ of their crimes,” he charged.

President Rouhani says Iran is “prepared to assist in the eradication¹⁰ of terrorism and in paving the way for democracy.”  He adds that Iran is prepared “to help bring about democracy in Syria and also Yemen.”

President Obama’s speech also touched other themes, including Ukraine.  He criticized Russia for annexing¹¹, or taking over, Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula. He also criticized Russia’s support of pro-Russian fighters in eastern Ukraine.  He says Western economic sanctions are needed against Russia.

“But we cannot standby when the sovereignty and territorial¹² integrity of a nation is flagrantly violated. If that happens without consequence in Ukraine, it could happen to any nation gathered here today.”

Presidents Obama, Putin and Rouhani were some of the 200 world leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York City. The U.N. is holding talks to find solutions to some of the world’s most troubling problems. The agenda includes setting new global goals to combat poverty, inequality and climate change.

Words in This Story

status quo –n; the way things are now

carnage –n; the killing of many people

compromise – n; settlement of an argument where each side agrees to accept less than first demanded

transition –n; change from one condition to another

legitimate –adj; allowed according to the rules

enormous – adj; very large

broad coalition – n; group of people from different opinions working together for a common purpose

apocalyptic cult - n; a group working to destroy the world

determination -n; a quality to makes a person continue to trying doing something difficult

sanction (s) –n; an order given to force a country to obey international law by limiting or stopping trade

justification –n; an acceptable reason to do something

criticize(d) – v;  to express disapproval about something

annex (ing) –v; to take control of a territory or place

flagrantly - adv; too bad to ignore

1 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 Nazism   

n. 纳粹主义

参考例句：

• His philosophical eyes were obviously shortsighted by the evil influence of Nazism. 显然，他那双哲学家般的深邃的眼睛也被纳粹的妖氛所眩惑。 来自中国文学部分
• Nazism suppressed all three movements as degenerate. 纳粹把所有三个运动都作为颓废艺术而加以镇压。

4 apocalyptic   

adj.预示灾祸的，启示的

参考例句：

• The air is chill and stagnant,the language apocalyptic.空气寒冷而污浊，语言则是《启示录》式的。
• Parts of the ocean there look just absolutely apocalyptic.海洋的很多区域看上去完全像是世界末日。

5 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

6 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

7 outlasted   

v.比…长久，比…活得长( outlast的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I outlasted several downsizings but the last one included me. 虽然我坚持到了最后，还是逃不过被裁的命运。 来自互联网
• This clock has outlasted several owners. 这座时钟的寿命比它的几个主人的寿命都长。 来自互联网

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

10 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

11 annexing   

并吞( annex的现在分词 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）

参考例句：

• In addition to annexing territory, they exacted huge indemnities. 割地之外，又索去了巨大的赔款。
• He succeeded in annexing all the property of Hindley's and the Linton's. 他成功的占有了亨得利和林顿的所有财产。

12 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。