2006年VOA标准英语-UN Security Council Appeals for Calm in Ha

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
14 February 2006

The U.N. Security Council has issued an appeal for calm in Haiti while results of last week's elections are finalized¹.

A statement unanimously approved by the Security Council commends Haitians for the commitment to democracy shown in the high voter turnout in last Tuesday's elections. But the statement, read by U.S. Ambassador John Bolton in his capacity as Security Council president for February, encouraged all parties to be calm as the votes are counted.

"The members of the council express their expectation that the counting of ballots² and the remaining steps in the electoral process mandated⁴ by Haitian law will continue to be transparent⁵ and meet international standards," he said. "They strongly urge all parties to respect the results of the election and refrain from violence."

A supporter of Rene Preval holds up a poster of him at roadblock of flaming tires just outside Cite Soleil slum in Port-au-Prince  
  
Ambassador Bolton said the council issued the appeal for calm after reports post-election unrest had led to at least one death in Port-au-Prince.

"I think the reason we took the step of issuing this press statement was because of the events of yesterday and because of our desire to maintain order and calm as the electoral process continues to unfold," he said. "That is why we have called on Haiti's political leaders to help in that effort, and we think the interim⁶ government and the international authorities are working hard to get the results made final, and we urge calm until that can take place."

In a related development Tuesday, the Security Council extended the mandate³ of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti for six months.

The extension came a day after U.N. troops clashed with demonstrators in Port-au-Prince. Witnesses were quoted as saying the peacekeepers opened fire, killing⁷ a protester. But U.N. spokesmen denied the accusation⁸, saying the blue-helmeted peacekeepers fired only warning shots in the air.

1 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

4 mandated   

adj. 委托统治的

参考例句：

• Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
• Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。

5 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

6 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。