国际组织动向－联合国通过核恐怖主义条约

 

UN Approves Nuclear Terrorism Treaty

 

The United Nations has approved a treaty aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism. Passage of the measure ends seven years of negotiations¹.

 

In the end, no vote was necessary. The 191-member General Assembly adopted the "International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism" by consensus².

 

But the road to approval was long, and at times uncertain. The measure was introduced by Russia in 1998 at a time when Moscow was concerned that Cold War-era weapons might fall into the hands of terrorists.

 

It remained stuck in the General Assembly's legal committee for years, bogged³ down by what are known as "killer⁴ amendments⁶" introduced by the United States, Pakistan, Cuba and Iran.  The U.S. proposal was aimed at preventing states from using peaceful nuclear programs as a cover for weapons development.

 

But all four amendments were withdrawn⁷ after President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin urged passage of the measure at their February meeting in Bratislava.

 

The measure is the 13th U.N. anti-terrorism convention, and the first adopted since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States.

 

Addressing the General Assembly, Washington's deputy U.N. ambassador Stuart Holliday said the unanimous approval shows that the world body, when it has the political will, can play an important role in the global fight against terrorism.

 

Holliday：We are pleased that Member States demonstrated a seriousness of purpose and worked together in this multilateral setting to conclude the Convention and thereby⁸ send an undeniably clear signal that the international community will not tolerate those who threaten or commit terrorist acts involving radioactive material or nuclear devices.

 

Ambassador Holliday called for other countries to build on the nuclear terrorism treaty by agreeing on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which remains⁹ stalled.

 

The treaty adopted Wednesday obligates governments to prosecute¹⁰ or extradite anyone who possesses or threatens to use radioactive materials with intent to cause death or injury.

 

The accord is to be opened for signatures on September 14, during a summit of world leaders in New York. It needs ratification¹¹ of 22 countries to become international law.

 

Peter Heinlein, VOA news, the United Nations.

 

注释：

nuclear [5nju:kliE] adj. 核的

consensus [kEn5sensEs] n. 一致通过

amendment⁵ [E5mendmEnt] n. 修正案

radioactive [5reidiEu5Aktiv] adj. 放射性的

ambassador [Am5bAsEdE] n. 大使

signature [5si^nitFE] n. 签名

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 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？

3 bogged   

adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍

参考例句：

• The professor bogged down in the middle of his speech. 教授的演讲只说了一半便讲不下去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The tractor is bogged down in the mud. 拖拉机陷入了泥沼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

5 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

6 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

7 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

8 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

11 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。