2006年VOA标准英语-European Countries Pledge Practical Measures in

By Gary Thomas
London
16 August 2006
 
Security ministers from Europe say they will cooperate on practical measures to combat terrorism.  The security conference was called after the public revelation of the alleged¹ terrorist plot against U.S.-bound aircraft.

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British Home Secretary John Reid says all of Europe faces, what he calls, "a persistent² and very real terrorist threat" and individual rights have to be balanced against collective security to combat it.

 
Britain's Home Secretary John Reid at a press conference at the Home Office, in London
  
"But as we face the threat of mass murder we have to accept that the rights as an individual that we enjoy must be balanced with the collective right of security and the protection of life and limb that our citizens demand," he said.  "That is not always an easy balance, but it is one that we are committed to maintaining."

Reid briefed his European counterparts on the alleged terrorist plot hatched in Britain against U.S.-bound aircraft.  The European security ministers pledged to take, what they called, "joint³ practical measures" to combat the terrorist threat. 

The measures include better information sharing, speeded-up research into the detection of explosives, and improving relations with their respective Muslim communities.  The ministers also agreed to convene⁴ a special conference of their intelligence chiefs.

European Union Justice Commissioner⁵ Franco Frattini said the measures might also include blocking Internet websites that incite⁶ terrorism.

"But I think it is very important, for example, to explore further possibilities of blocking websites that concretely incite to commit terrorist actions or for example providing of the diffusion⁷ of expertise⁸ or knowledge about bomb making," said Frattini.

Passengers waiting to check in for  flights at Terminal 4 of London's Heathrow Airport, Monday August 14, 2006  
  
Frattini acknowledged that it is a sensitive subject and one the ministers did not discuss during their meeting.  He also said European governments will do more to improve relations with their Muslim communities.

"We have been discussing about the integration⁹ and relations with Muslim communities.  One area,  which is very important, is radicalization," he added.  "Prevent and fight against radicalization also means thinking about training imams at the European level, because we do want a European Islam.  And that is very important not only to show to the Muslim communities that we fully¹⁰ respect other religions, other faiths, but that we also want their respect of national laws, European laws, and fundamental rights, and, first of all, the right to life."

Some British Muslim leaders have sharply criticized the anti-terror laws adopted by Britain after last year's suicide bombings on London Underground trains, saying the measures unfairly single them out for special attention by authorities.

Britain also adopted especially stringent¹¹ security controls at its airports after the terrorist plot came to light last week. 

British Home Secretary Reid said European countries have to adopt a common set of security standards so terrorists will not look to shop around to find an airport with weaker security measures.

"And one of the points this morning was to discuss and share the threats and the responses precisely¹² in order that we do not have a position where the terrorists feel that if it is difficult to get through the security checks in London, they might be able to go to Frankfurt or Berlin or Paris or somewhere else," he added.

Meanwhile, an embarrassing security breach¹³ has come to light.  A 12-year-old runaway¹⁴ boy with no passport, ticket or boarding pass got on board a Lisbon-bound flight Monday at London's Gatwick Airport.  He was discovered before takeoff when flight attendants found there was one too many passengers aboard the plane.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

5 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

6 incite   

v.引起，激动，煽动

参考例句：

• I wanted to point out he was a very good speaker, and could incite a crowd.我想说明他曾是一个非常出色的演讲家，非常会调动群众的情绪。
• Just a few words will incite him into action.他只需几句话一将，就会干。

7 diffusion   

n.流布；普及；散漫

参考例句：

• The invention of printing helped the diffusion of learning.印刷术的发明有助于知识的传播。
• The effect of the diffusion capacitance can be troublesome.扩散电容会引起麻烦。

8 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

9 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

11 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

12 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

13 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

14 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。