VOA标准英语2008年-UN Security Council Considering Tighter Zimbabw

The U.N. Security Council is considering a U.S.-written draft resolution on Zimbabwe that would tighten¹ sanctions against the government of Robert Mugabe and a dozen individuals. From United Nation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
　
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe leaves after attending the 11th Ordinary Session of the assembly of the African Union heads of State and government in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 30 Jun 2008

The United States is moving ahead with a draft resolution that seeks to freeze the assets and restrict the travel of Robert Mugabe and 11 individuals in or close to his government who have been linked to recent political violence and the undermining of the election process. The proposed resolution also seeks to expand an arms embargo² against the government.

In a copy of the draft resolution obtained by VOA, President Mugabe is first on the list, and is followed by five senior members of his security forces, five members of his government and the head of the Reserve Bank.

Britain has strongly supported the U.S. push for tougher sanctions. Britain's U.N. Ambassador John Sawers:

"I certainly think the council should press ahead with the resolution on sanctions," said Ambassador Sawers. "Yes, I think the situation is very dire³ there. I think we need to make clear that the views of the Zimbabwean people as expressed in the last election that was reasonably free and fair - that one on 29 March - needs to be respected. And the new government needs to be formed on the basis of the views of the Zimbabwean people as expressed then."

The draft being circulated also demands that Mugabe's government immediately begin talks with the opposition⁴, and asks the U.N. secretary-general to appoint "an individual of international standing⁵ and expertise⁶ in human rights" to serve as his special representative and investigate reports of human rights violations⁷.

Western diplomats⁸ say candidates on the short-list for that appointment include former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, Ghana's President John Kufuor, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano.

The resolution also expresses support for the on-going efforts by the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to solve the post-election crisis.

The U.N. Security Council will be briefed on the situation in Zimbabwe on Tuesday. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, who is attending the African Union summit in Egypt, and U.N. Envoy⁹ Haile Menkerios, who was just in Zimbabwe, would address the council.

 

1 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

2 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

3 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

7 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

8 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。