2006年VOA标准英语-EU to Allow Burma's Foreign Minister to Attend

By Heda Bayron
Kuala Lumpur
26 July 2006
 
The European Union has agreed to allow Burma's foreign minister to attend a summit of European and Asian leaders in Helsinki later this year.  

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Nyan Win (File photo) 
  
The European Union will waive¹ a travel ban on Burma's top leaders to allow Burmese Foreign Minister to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting in September.

Finland will hold the Asia-Europe Meeting, known as ASEM, in September and heads of governments from 38 countries are expected to attend.

ASEM officials said Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur that the decision was made to promote "critical dialogue" between Burma and the EU but it does not mean a softening² of Europe's stance against the country's military government.

The European Union is sharply critical of Burma's human rights record, its detention³ of opposition⁴ figures and its failure to make democratic reforms. The EU has imposed sanctions on the country, including a ban on visits by Burmese officials.

A 2004 summit in Hanoi nearly did not take place because of EU objections to Burma's attendance. That drew protests from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Burma is a member. A compromise was reached that allowed Burma to be represented by a lower-level delegation⁵. 

Hassan Wirajuda   
  
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda Wednesday told reporters there are differences between Western governments and ASEAN on dealing⁶ with Burma, which is also known as Myanmar. But, he said, both ways have problems.

"The West tends to prefer sanctions and pressure approach. I think they also recognize that these sanctions do not work, do not produce something concrete in changing Myanmar and pushing Myanmar in their democratization process," said Wirajuda.  "Likewise, we must admit that constructive⁷ engagement by ASEAN has not been able to produce something we in ASEAN wanted to see. That's why [there are] frustrations⁸ in the international community."

The EU's decision comes just after Burma received a mild rebuke⁹ from fellow ASEAN members. On Tuesday, ASEAN foreign ministers called for "tangible¹⁰" progress in Burma's road map to political reform, the release of political prisoners and dialogue with the opposition.

Burma joined ASEAN in 1997, despite the objections of the EU, the United States and other countries because of its poor rights records. Leaders in other ASEAN countries, however, argued that engaging with Burma would encourage its military government to end its isolation¹¹ and make reforms.

Burma's government unveiled the road map to democracy in 2003 but gave no timetable. A convention to form a new constitution has been indefinitely suspended but Tuesday Burmese officials said it could resume this year.

European Union officials are in Kuala Lumpur this week to meet with the foreign ministers of the 10 ASEAN nations. In addition, they will take part in the ASEAN Regional Forum¹² meeting Friday - a gathering¹³ to discuss security issues, which the United States, China, Japan, and other countries also will attend.

1 waive   

vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等)

参考例句：

• I'll record to our habitat office waive our claim immediately.我立即写信给咱们的总公司提出放弃索赔。
• In view of the unusual circumstances,they agree to waive their requirement.鉴于特殊情况，他们同意放弃他们的要求。

2 softening   

变软，软化

参考例句：

• Her eyes, softening, caressed his face. 她的眼光变得很温柔了。它们不住地爱抚他的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• He might think my brain was softening or something of the kind. 他也许会觉得我婆婆妈妈的，已经成了个软心肠的人了。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

8 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。

9 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

10 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

11 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

12 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

13 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。