2007年VOA标准英语-UN Chief Encouraged by Darfur Peace Efforts

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
12 April 2007

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expressing optimism that Sudan will soon accept the presence of attack helicopters in a robust¹ peacekeeping presence in Darfur.  VOA's Peter Heinlein reports the U.N. chief also called for the immediate² release of a British journalist kidnapped in Gaza.

Mr. Ban says he is encouraged by diplomatic efforts to win Sudanese approval of a dramatically strengthened peacekeeping force in its violence-wracked Darfur region. He said agreement has been reached on all issues except whether helicopter gunships will be included to support 2,200 heavily armed U.N. peacekeepers that would back up the 7,000 African Union troops already on the ground.

Mr. Ban described the remaining issue as simply a "misunderstanding."

"The remaining point is on this gunship helicopter. Seems to be misunderstanding on Sudanese government on this equipment," he said.  "This is not for any offensive purpose. This peacekeeping is by definition peacekeeping operations, it is not for any offensive, but when you deploy³ troops you need to have mobility⁴ with some capacity of deterrence⁵. This is just standard equipment for which they should have no concern." 

The helicopters are part of the second phase of a three stage package Sudan agreed to last November, but Sudanese leaders have since backtracked on core elements of the deal.

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Palestinian journalists hold posters of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, during a car demonstration calling for his release in Gaza City, 12 April 2007

In his comments to reporters, Mr. Ban also joined in the calls for the release of British Broadcasting Corporation journalist Alan Johnston who was abducted⁷ last month in Gaza. The U.N. chief said freedom of the press must be protected "as a matter of principle."

"I have been closely following this issue, the abduction of BBC journalist Alan Johnston," he added.  "I am deeply concerned.  Even after one month of his abduction, he has not been released.  His coverage⁸ of Palestinian issues has earned a great reputation worldwide.  Freedom of coverage, as well as freedom of the press, should be protected as a matter of principle.  I sincerely hope that those who are responsible for this abduction should release him unconditionally⁹ and immediately."

On another subject, Mr. Ban said he was "very much concerned" by the lack of progress in establishing a special tribunal on the assassination¹⁰ of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.  He said he had spoken by phone Tuesday with current Prime Minister Fuad Siniora as part of his efforts to promote a national reconciliation¹¹ process in Lebanon.

Mr. Ban's office has confirmed that he plans to travel to the region later this month. His itinerary¹² includes a stop in Damascus for a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

1 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

4 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

5 deterrence   

威慑，制止； 制止物，制止因素； 挽留的事物； 核威慑

参考例句：

• An extreme school of "disarmers" pronounced stable deterrence was a dangerous deception. “裁军论者”中的极端派声称，稳定的威摄是一种危险的骗局。
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。

6 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

7 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

8 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

9 unconditionally   

adv.无条件地

参考例句：

• All foreign troops must be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally. 所有外国军队必须立即无条件地撤出。
• It makes things very awkward to have your girls going back unconditionally just now! 你们现在是无条件上工，真糟糕！ 来自子夜部分

10 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

11 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

12 itinerary   

n.行程表，旅行路线；旅行计划

参考例句：

• The two sides have agreed on the itinerary of the visit.双方商定了访问日程。
• The next place on our itinerary was Silistra.我们行程的下一站是锡利斯特拉。