VOA常速英语2007年-NATO Foreign Ministers to Discuss Role in Kosov

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
07 December 2007

NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels Friday to discuss a number of issues, including the alliance's role in Kosovo and Afghanistan, and the admission of new members. Lisa Bryant has more from Paris.

In opening remarks at the Brussels meeting, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop¹ Scheffer stressed the alliance's commitment in keeping its peacekeeping troops in Kosovo beyond the December 10 U.N. deadline on the future status of the breakaway Serbian province.

"NATO'S continued commitment to the security and stability of the region remains² crucial and we will act resolutely³ against anyone who seeks to resort to violence," he said. "Regardless of the outcome of the status process, Kosovo will remain and has to remain a place where Kosovar Albanians, Serbs and others must be allowed to live in peace together free from fear and free from intimidation⁴. We are determined⁵ to play our part."

The foreign ministers had a full agenda in Brussels. Besides NATO's role in Kosovo, where Kosovar Albanians are threatening to declare independence, the alliance will also discuss their efforts to secure peace in Afghanistan and expanding their ranks to include new members.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov from non-member Russia are also expected to discuss a new U.S. intelligence review that suggests Iran suspended its alleged⁶ nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Accord to press reports, NATO members agreed over dinner Thursday night that their policy toward Iran should not change. But Lavrov has said Russia sees no evidence Tehran ever had a nuclear weapons program.

The Russian and NATO foreign ministers are also expected to discuss other topics on which - as Mr. Scheffer pointed⁷ out - they do not always see eye to eye. Most notable among them is Kosovo, a European arms treaty Russia has suspended adherence⁸ to and US plans to establish a missile defense⁹ system in eastern Europe.

1 hoop   

n.（篮球）篮圈，篮

参考例句：

• The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
• The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

4 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 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

7 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

8 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。