VOA标准英语2013--G20峰会有望讨论叙利亚问题

 

Major Discussions on Syria Expected at G20 Summit G20峰会有望讨论叙利亚问题

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama made a stop in Sweden Wednesday before heading to the summit of the world's 20 major economies later this week in Russia.  Syria is expected to be one of the main topics on the sidelines of the summit as President Obama seeks international support for a military strike on Damascus, in response to its alleged¹ used of banned poisonous gas against the Syrian people. 

Sweden's capital, Stockholm, has strengthened security ahead of Obama's arrival Wednesday.  The Arctic, free trade and Syria are the likely topics of his talks with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Before leaving for his three-day trip Tuesday evening, President Obama secured support for military action against Syria from top congressional leaders, and expressed confidence that Congress will pass his resolution authorizing² a strike against Damascus.  But Obama also wants international support for such an operation.

French President Francois Hollande already has promised his support. On Tuesday, he expressed hope that a broader consensus³ can be reached at the G20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.

"When a chemical massacre⁴ happens, when the world knows about it, when the evidence is provided, when the perpetrators are known to us, there has to be a response," he said. "The international community expects this response. And coming together - German president, French president - we express the same indignation, the same condemnation⁵, and at the same time the same hope, that a political solution will be found for Syria.''

Hollande spoke⁶ to reporters after meeting with the German president, Joachim Gauck, in Paris.

"[German Chancellor] Angela Merkel considers that during upcoming meetings, for example at the G20, that it will be possible to come to an international agreement about the appropriate response as regards Syria,'' said Gauck.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon also will attend the summit in Russia's second largest city.  He has warned against any military action in Syria before a U.N. team reports the results of its investigation⁷ conducted in a suburb of Damascus, where Syrian forces allegedly used chemical weapons August 21.  Before heading for the summit, Ban also stressed that the use of such weapons would constitute a grave violation⁸ of international laws.

"We must put an end to the atrocities⁹ the Syrian people continue to suffer," he said. "We should avoid further militarization of the conflict and revitalize the search for a political settlement. I take note of the argument for action to prevent future uses of chemical weapons. At the same time, we must consider the impact of any punitive¹⁰ measure on efforts to prevent further bloodshed and facilitate a political resolution of the conflict."

Syria has denied using chemical weapons, and its ally Russia, the summit's host, is expected to try to dissuade¹¹ participants from joining a coalition¹² for a strike on Syria.

While in Russia, Obama also is expected to meet a group of rights activists¹³ to discuss the country's controversial laws that critics say clamp down on freedoms and repress minorities, such as the opposition¹⁴ and gay and lesbian communities. 

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 authorizing   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
• Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。

3 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

4 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

5 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

9 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 punitive   

adj.惩罚的，刑罚的

参考例句：

• They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
• The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

11 dissuade   

v.劝阻，阻止

参考例句：

• You'd better dissuade him from doing that.你最好劝阻他别那样干。
• I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares.我曾设法劝她不要投资于股票交易。

12 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

13 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 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。