2006年VOA标准英语-UN Secretary-General Warns of Nuclear Prolifera

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
21 June 2006
 
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan warns that the spread of nuclear weapons threatens to propel the world into a state of crisis. In a speech to the U.N. Conference on Disarmament, the secretary-general mentioned North Korea and Iran as two potential flash points.

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Kofi Annan speaks during Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, June 21, 2006  
  

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, says the world is at a crossroads. One path can lead to the restriction¹ or even reversal of the spread of nuclear weapons. The other path, he says, can lead to a world in which a growing number of states arm themselves with these weapons. The consequence of this second choice, he warns, is that these dangerous weapons could fall into the hands of people who would have the means to carry out nuclear terrorism.

"The international community seems almost to be sleepwalking down the latter path - not by conscious choice, but rather through miscalculation, sterile² debate and paralysis³ of the very multilateral mechanisms⁴ created for confidence-building and conflict resolution," Annan said.

Annan says some progress toward disarmament has been made. But, he notes, thousands of nuclear weapons exist around the world and many are on hair-trigger alert.

The secretary-general was speaking as international tensions are growing over North Korea's and Iran's nuclear weapons programs. North Korea seems bent⁵ on testing a long-range missile, which Washington says, has the capacity to reach the United States. And, the United States and European Union suspect Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies.

Annan says these two specific situations must be resolved.

"The impasse⁶ on the Korean Peninsula is especially disappointing given last September's agreement, in the six-party talks, which included a set of principles for a verifiable denuclearization of the Peninsula," he said. "I hope the leaders of the DPRK will listen to what the world is telling them, and take great care not to make the situation on the Peninsula even more complicated."

Annan says Iran needs to assure the world that its nuclear activities are exclusively peaceful in nature.

He says urgent action must be taken to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. He appealed for the U.N. Conference on Disarmament to wake up from its slumber⁷ and begin real negotiations⁸ on halting the production of uranium and plutonium used to make nuclear weapons. He is also calling for the conference to negotiate a treaty to prevent an arms race in outer space

1 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

2 sterile   

adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的

参考例句：

• This top fits over the bottle and keeps the teat sterile.这个盖子严实地盖在奶瓶上，保持奶嘴无菌。
• The farmers turned the sterile land into high fields.农民们把不毛之地变成了高产田。

3 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

4 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

6 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

7 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。

8 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。