2006年VOA标准英语-Ban Ki-Moon Formally Elected as Next UN Secreta

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
13 October 2006

Ban Ki-Moon

The U.N. General Assembly has formally approved the nomination¹ of South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon as the world body's next secretary-general. He takes office January 1. The approval came by acclimation².

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The Assembly broke into sustained applause when Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa asked delegates to accept Mr. Ban's nomination as Secretary general.

"May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the draft resolution by acclamation. (applause) It is so decided," he said.

The outgoing Secretary-General Kofi Annan warmly welcomed Mr. Ban as his successor. Mr. Annan told the packed Assembly hall the often-criticized secret process of selecting the world's diplomat-in-chief had worked, largely because of Mr. Ban's exceptional qualifications.

"Mr. Ban, I think everyone here recognizes the depth of your experience, the breadth of your connections, and your ability to co-operate effectively at the highest levels. As someone who has known and worked with you for several years, I think they will soon discover something more, if they do not see it already: a future secretary-general who is exceptionally attuned³ to the sensitivities of countries and constituencies in every continent," he said.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Ban returned his successor's compliment, paying tribute to Mr. Annan's leadership. "You, Mr. Secretary-General, you have astutely⁴ guided this organization into the 21st century, You have defined an ambitious agenda that has made U.N. truly indispensable to peace, prosperity and human dignity around the world. Our debt to your courage and vision is immeasurable. I resolve to build upon your legacy," he said.

In a moving speech, Mr. Ban recalled his youth, and noted⁵ the role the world body played in allowing him to rise to the organization's highest rank.

"My heart is overflowing⁶ with gratitude⁷ toward my country and people who have sent me here to serve. It has been a long journey from my youth in war-torn and destitute⁸ Korea to this rostrum and these awesome⁹ responsibility. I could make the journey because the U.N. was with my people in the darkest days. It gave us hope and sustenance¹⁰, security and dignity. It showed us a better way," he said.

Mr. Ban said he would spend the next couple months studying ways to reform and revitalize an organization that struggled under the weight of administrative¹¹ scandals at home and sex scandals among its far-flung peacekeeping operations.

He hailed his appointment as evidence of Asia's rise on the world stage, and noted that Asia's hallmark has been modesty¹² of demeanor¹³. But he emphasized that has not meant modesty of vision or goals. He pledged his tenure¹⁴ would be marked by a quiet determination of action to get things done without fanfare¹⁵.

"We should be more modest in our words, but not in performance. The true measure of success for the U.N. is not how much we promise, but how much we deliver for those who need us most," he said.

The 62-year old Mr. Ban will take the helm of the world body after a distinguished¹⁶ diplomatic career.

He joined the South Korean foreign ministry¹⁷ in 1970, after graduating from the prestigious¹⁸ Seoul National University. He later earned a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University.

He has served in various posts at the United Nations, including a term as South Korea's ambassador, and has played a key role in trying to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. He has been South Korea's foreign minister since January, 2004.

He will be the second Asian to lead the world body. U Thant of Burma served as secretary-general from 1961 to 1971.

1 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

2 acclimation   

n.服水土，顺应，适应环境；服习；驯化

参考例句：

• The incipient lethal temperature are shifted upward by acclimation to warmer temperature. 四角蛤蜊起始致死温是随驯化温度的变化而改变。 来自互联网
• A respiration rate compensation throught thermal acclimation is demonstrated by E. 温度驯化能导致速率补偿，表现为25℃驯化河蟹的呼吸率明显低于10℃驯化河蟹的呼吸率。 来自互联网

3 attuned   

v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音

参考例句：

• She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs. 她还没有熟悉她宝宝的需要。
• Women attuned to sensitive men found Vincent Lord attractive. 偏爱敏感男子的女人，觉得文森特·洛德具有魅力。 来自辞典例句

4 astutely   

adv.敏锐地；精明地；敏捷地；伶俐地

参考例句：

• That was what Ada Quonsetf astutely intended. 这正是艾达·昆赛脱狡狯之处。 来自辞典例句
• Freemantle had an idea that the TV session, astutely managed, might well develop into a show. 弗里曼特却自有主意，只要安排得巧妙，电视采访完全可以变成一次示威。 来自辞典例句

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 overflowing   

n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The stands were overflowing with farm and sideline products. 集市上农副产品非常丰富。
• The milk is overflowing. 牛奶溢出来了。

7 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

8 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

9 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

10 sustenance   

n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。

11 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

12 modesty   

n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素

参考例句：

• Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。

13 demeanor   

n.行为；风度

参考例句：

• She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
• The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。

14 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

15 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

16 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

17 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

18 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。