Annan Tells World Leaders Rule of Law Under Attack

 

By Peter Heinlein

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has told world leaders that the rule of law is under attack in crisis points around the globe. The secretary-general reminded his audience of presidents and prime ministers that international law is almost as old as civilization itself. He lamented¹ that in places from Iraq to Darfur, northern Uganda to the site of the recent terrorist massacres² in southern Russia, as well as in Israel and the Palestinian territories, the rule of law is being flouted³.
"Today the rule of law is at risk around the world," said Mr. Annan. "Again and again we see laws shamelessly disregarded; those that ordain⁴ respect for innocent life, for civilians⁵, for the vulnerable - especially children."
Speaking in the language of diplomacy⁶, Mr. Annan was careful to avoid direct criticism in his speech. But his meaning was clear as he cautioned powerful countries to restore respect for law.
"We must start from the principle that no one is above the law, and no one should be denied its protection," he added. "Every nation that proclaims the rule of law at home must respect it abroad. And every nation that insists on it abroad must enforce it at home."
Mr. Annan paid special attention to the crisis in Darfur, and pledged to quickly act on the Security Council demand for an international investigation⁷ into charges that genocide has been committed there. He commended the African Union for taking the lead in providing a protective force in Darfur, and chided other countries who have been slow to respond to pleas for help.
"Let no one imagine that this affair concerns Africans alone," he said. "The victims are human beings, whose human rights must be sacred to us all. We have a duty to do whatever we can to rescue them, and do it now."
The secretary-general's speech opened two weeks of General Assembly debate. Representatives of all 191 U.N. member countries are scheduled to address the Assembly, including nearly 90 heads of state and government.
Peter Heinlein, VOA News, the United Nations.

注释：
international law 国际法
lament 哀悼
Darfur 达尔福尔[苏丹西部一地区]
Uganda [国名]乌干达(东非国家)
Massacre残杀, 大屠杀
disregard 漠视, 忽视
innocent 无辜的
proclaim宣布, 声明
Security Council 联合国安全理事会
genocide 有计划的灭种和屠杀
chide斥责, 责骂
rescue援救, 营救

1 lamented   

adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
• We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 massacres   

大屠杀( massacre的名词复数 )； 惨败

参考例句：

• The time is past for guns and killings and massacres. 动不动就用枪、动不动就杀、大规模屠杀的时代已经过去了。 来自教父部分
• Numberless recent massacres were still vivid in their recollection. 近来那些不可胜数的屠杀，在他们的头脑中记忆犹新。

3 flouted   

v.藐视，轻视( flout的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• North Vietnam flouted the accords from the day they were signed. 北越从签字那天起就无视协定的存在。 来自辞典例句
• They flouted all our offers of help and friendship. 他们对我们愿意提供的所有帮助和友谊表示藐视。 来自辞典例句

4 ordain   

vi.颁发命令；vt.命令，授以圣职，注定，任命

参考例句：

• The church's ruling body voted to ordain women as priests.该教会的管理机构投票通过接纳女性为牧师。
• The essence of management refers to its internal inevitable ordain quality,and is also called ultimate attribute.管理的本质是指管理自身内在的必然的规定性，即根本属性。

5 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

6 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

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。