VOA常速英语2007年-UN Security Council Kosovo Talks End in Stalema

By Barbara Schoetzau
New York
19 December 2007

The U.N. Security Council failed to break a deadlock¹ over the future of the Serbian province of Kosovo Wednesday. From VOA's New York Bureau, correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports the failure has raised concerns about a showdown between Serbia and its allies, including Russia, and supporters of Kosovo's plans to declare independence, the European Union and United States.

Months of talks between Kosovo and Serbia mediated² by the so-called troika - the European Union, Russia and the United States - ended in November without an agreement on the province's future.

Kosovo's overwhelmingly Albanian majority wants independence. Serbia has offered Kosovo substantial autonomy, but says independence for the U.N.-administered province violates Serbia's territorial³ integrity. The United Nations has administered Kosovo since 1999 when NATO drove out Serbian forces involved in ethnic⁴ cleansing⁵.

After Wednesday's Security Council meeting, the European Union and the United States said all possibilities for an agreement have been exhausted⁶ due to the irreconcilable⁷ issue of sovereignty.

 

President of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu said the meeting ends an important cycle. Mr. Sejdiu said Kosovars are ready to move towards independence.

"For us it is extremely important that we are committed to the forming of a new democratic government with protection of the rights for all its communities," he said. "It is our hope that in the future, we will be able to establish equally good, neighborly and friendly relations with Serbia.

But Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that during the Security Council meeting Serbia insisted that talks continue. He warned of a dangerous era in international affairs if the Security Council allows Kosovo unilaterally to declare independence. Such an action, he says, violates the U.N. Charter and the Council's own resolution on Kosovo.

"Serbia defended strongly and firmly its territorial integrity and sovereignty," he said. "We also defended the idea that negotiations⁸ cannot be stopped or blocked. The Security Council should be dedicated⁹ to searching for a compromise. What is the alternative to respect of international law?"

In a statement, the European Union said it would have preferred to have the Security Council lead the way in Kosovo, but is ready to play a leading role in implementing¹⁰ a measure defining Kosovo's future status.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin says negotiations have been successful in closing the gap on all issues except the all-important question of sovereignty. He says Russia believes continued negotiations can produce an outcome, which will be acceptable and keep stability in the Balkans.

1 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

2 mediated   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的过去式和过去分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• He mediated in the quarrel between the two boys. 他调解两个孩子之间的争吵。
• The government mediated between the workers and the employers. 政府在工人与雇主间搞调和。

3 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。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 cleansing   

n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词

参考例句：

• medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉
• Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。

6 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

7 irreconcilable   

adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的

参考例句：

• These practices are irreconcilable with the law of the Church.这种做法与教规是相悖的。
• These old concepts are irreconcilable with modern life.这些陈旧的观念与现代生活格格不入。

8 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。

9 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

10 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句