2006年VOA标准英语-Serbs Approve New Constitution

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
30 October 2006

Serbia has overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that, among other things, declares Kosovo an "integral part" of Serbia, according to preliminary results. Independent observers and officials say that more than 53 percent of the voters cast their ballots², which is enough to make the constitutional referendum valid³.

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Kosovo Serb villager votes in referendum for new Serb constitution in Kosovo Serb village of Gracanica, Oct. 29, 2006  
  
The Belgrade-based Center for Free Elections and Democracy says just over half of Serbian voters approved the new constitution, which declares Kosovo "an integral part of Serbia." Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica had warned of what he called "unforeseeable consequences" if the vote failed.

The referendum raised eyebrows⁴ among international mediators who are in the middle of negotiations⁵ over the future status of Kosovo. The province has been under United Nations control since 1999 after NATO bombardment forced Serb troops out the territory.

Although the roughly two million ethnic⁶ Albanians in Kosovo form a majority, they were not invited to participate in Sunday's referendum. But ethnic Albanian leaders say the outcome of the vote will have no impact on their efforts to break away from Serbia.

The government in Belgrade claims the new constitution, which is backed by major parties and the Orthodox Church, consolidates⁷ democracy and the rule of law in the Balkan country.
 

President Boris Tadic casts ballot¹ during constitutional referendum, Oct. 28, 2006  
  
The Serbian leadership also hopes the document will help to restart stalled membership talks with the European Union. Serbian President Boris Tadic says the constitution puts an end to the era of Slobodan Milosevic, who died in prison this year at the U.N. war crimes tribunal, where he was tried on a number of charges stemming from the 1990s Balkans war.

"A new constitution, this is very important for us, especially regarding the last constitution," he said. "We are trying to make some break from the Milosevic period and this is from our point of view very, very important. At the same time we [are creating] better protection for all national minorities."

That view is apparently⁸ shared by leaders of several ethnic minorities, including a Muslim-led party, ethnic Hungarians and a Jewish organization, which support the new constitution.

However critics say the new constitution is more about nationalism and Serbian statehood than democracy itself. Opponents already gathered in Belgrade to sign their own "Charter of Freedom," which calls for the creation of "a modern Serbia based on civic⁹ freedoms."

About six and a half million people were entitled to vote in the national referendum and more than 53 percent of them did.

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

4 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

5 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。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 consolidates   

巩固

参考例句：

• We've made a good start, now it's time to consolidate. 我们有了一个良好的开端，现在应该加以巩固。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Yuan Shih-k'ai, a would-be Oriental Bonaparte, now attempted to consolidate his power. 当时，一度可能成为东方波拿巴的袁世凯试图巩固他的权力。 来自英汉非文学 - 新闻报道

8 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

9 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。