VOA标准英语2009年-UN Chief Deeply Disappointed Not to See Au

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says it was a "deep disappointment" that he was unable to meet imprisoned¹ democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his recent visit to Burma, saying the decision of authorities there not to let him meet with her was a lost opportunity on their part.
　
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to reporters before his departure from Rangoon, Burma, 04 Jul 2009

Mr. Ban briefed members of the U.N. Security Council Monday on his visit earlier this month to Burma, where he met with Senior General Than Shwe, the prime minister, and other government leaders.

The U.N. chief had support from the council for the two-day visit, but it has been widely seen as a failure because he was unable to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi or affect any real outcome on other pending² issues.

"Let me say that the refusal of the senior leadership to allow me to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not only a deep disappointment, but also a major lost opportunity for Myanmar. While this should not define our efforts, allowing such a meeting would have sent a constructive³ and conciliatory signal, both inside and outside Myanmar," Mr. Ban said.

Burma is also known as Myanmar.

Burma's U.N. envoy⁴ U Than Swe defended his government's decision, saying the Senior General was willing to arrange the meeting, but it was the decision of the Special Court that is trying Aung San Suu Kyi not to allow it.

Mr. Ban said that during his two meetings with the Senior General he discussed the need for the leadership to take meaningful steps toward the release of all political prisoners. He also urged resumption of talks between the government and the opposition⁵, and creation of the conditions for credible⁶ and legitimate⁷ elections next year.

Mr. Ban said he received assurances that the 2010 general elections would be free and fair, but cautioned such promises must be translated into concrete action.

Burma's Ambassador U Than Swe told the Security Council that his government intends to implement⁸ what he called "all appropriate recommendations" of the secretary-general, and in a surprising announcement said his government is considering an amnesty for prisoners.

"At the request of the secretary-general, the Myanmar Government is [sic] processing to grant amnesty to prisoners on humanitarian⁹ grounds and with a view to enabling them to participate in the 2010 general elections," he said.

Speaking to reporters outside the council chamber¹⁰, Mr. Ban said that news was "encouraging" but he would have to follow up to know exactly what it meant and who it included.

Within the Security Council, reaction was mixed toward the secretary-general's briefing and the Burmese government's response to his visit.

Western countries took a tough line, calling on Burma's leaders to address international calls for it to release political prisoners and resume national reconciliation¹¹ talks. Several members also expressed concern over the current trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, questioning the legitimacy¹² of the charges.

The democracy activist¹³ who has been under house arrest for more than 13 of the past 19 years. In May, she was moved to a Rangoon prison and is currently standing¹⁴ trial for allegedly violating the terms of her house arrest after allowing an uninvited guest in without official permission.

Burma's allies, including China, Russia and Vietnam, took a much softer tone, saying Mr. Ban's visit was largely a success and accomplished¹⁵ all his goals - except meeting Aung San Suu Kyi. But they defended that, saying meeting her should not be the only measure of the trip's success and that he met representatives from several political parties, including hers.

China, in particular, urged the international community to make a fair and balanced assessment¹⁶ of the situation and urged the lifting of financial sanctions, that it said are unfairly hindering Burma's economic development.

1 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

2 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

3 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

4 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。

5 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。

6 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

7 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。

8 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

9 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

10 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

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 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

13 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

14 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。

15 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

16 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？