UN officials pay tribute to Chavez

 　　UNITED NATIONS, March 13 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday praised late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as "one of those leaders who made a difference in his country, the region and the world."

　　Addressing a General Assembly plenary meeting held here to pay tribute to the memory of the late President of Venezuela, Ban said, "Basing himself on an eminently¹ Latin American vision, President Chavez provided decisive impetus² for new efforts towards regional integration³."

　　Perhaps most notably⁴, the UN chief said, Chavez ensured that Venezuela provided crucial assistance to Haiti following the devastating⁵ earthquake of 2010. "He always reminded the region of the historic debt that it owed to Haiti, the first republic to gain independence in Latin America and the Caribbean."

　　Ban also recognized Chavez's contribution to the peace talks in Colombia between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as well as the "solidarity⁶" he showed toward other nations in the hemisphere.

　　"As the process of regional integration progresses, the key role that President Chavez has had in promoting the unity⁷ of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean will be present in everyone's minds," said the Secretary-General.

　　"But perhaps President Chavez will be best remembered for his ability to connect at a human level with the most vulnerable and give voice to their aspirations," he said.

　　Ban also recalled Chavez's message when the late Venezuelan president first addressed the General Assembly in 1999, saying "On that occasion, he stated his wish that one day in the near future it would be possible to proclaim that peace, democracy and development have triumphed."

　　Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Vuk Jeremic also said "On behalf of the General Assembly and in my own name, allow me to offer my deepest condolences to his bereaved⁸ family and friends, the government and people of Venezuela, as well as to his many admirers throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and the rest of the world."

　　"History will remember President Chavez, a charismatic leader whose progressive policies brought Venezuela's poverty rate down from over 70 percent at the close of the 20th century to around 20 percent today," he said.

　　He lauded⁹ the commitment of Chavez to the cause of social justice, saying that Chavez had been working hard to improve the lives of Venezuelans, especially the most underprivileged amongst them.

　　"Under his strong leadership, Venezuela made great strides towards fulfilling the Millennium¹⁰ Development Goals, to the lasting¹¹ benefit of a great and proud nation," Jeremic said.

　　The former Serbian foreign minister recalled Chavez's "humble¹² beginning," noting that this helped him "better understand and feel the pain and privations of ordinary Venezuelans."

　　Jeremic also eulogized Chavez as "a vocal¹³ advocate of the Global South," "a firm believer in the potential of the Non- Aligned¹⁴ Movement and the G-77 to help uplift the developing world, " and "a driving force behind efforts to deepen Latin American and Caribbean integration."

　　In addition, Jeremic renewed his commitment to deepen the relationship between Venezuela and the UNGA with the aim of strengthening the founding principles of the United Nations.

　　Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's president since February 1999, died on March 5 at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer which was first detected in his pelvis. The State Funeral for him was held in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, on March 8.

1 eminently   

adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地

参考例句：

• She seems eminently suitable for the job. 她看来非常适合这个工作。
• It was an eminently respectable boarding school. 这是所非常好的寄宿学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 impetus   

n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力

参考例句：

• This is the primary impetus behind the economic recovery.这是促使经济复苏的主要动力。
• Her speech gave an impetus to my ideas.她的讲话激发了我的思绪。

3 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

4 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

5 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

6 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

7 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

8 bereaved   

adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物）

参考例句：

• The ceremony was an ordeal for those who had been recently bereaved. 这个仪式对于那些新近丧失亲友的人来说是一种折磨。
• an organization offering counselling for the bereaved 为死者亲友提供辅导的组织

9 lauded   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They lauded the former president as a hero. 他们颂扬前总统为英雄。 来自辞典例句
• The nervy feats of the mountaineers were lauded. 登山者有勇气的壮举受到赞美。 来自辞典例句

10 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

11 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

12 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

13 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

14 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。