2007年VOA标准英语-Security Council Discusses Expanding UN's Polit

By Suzanne Presto¹
New York
07 August 2007

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday discussed a draft resolution to expand the United Nations' political role in Iraq.  From VOA's New York bureau, Suzanne Presto reports that U.N. diplomats² say there is support to extend the U.N. mandate³ for another year and to enhance the mission.

U.N. Security Council

The United Nations pulled its staffers from Iraq in August 2003, after terrorists blew up the mission's Baghdad offices and killed 22 people.  Although some employees have returned, security continues to be a major concern. 

Now, western nations, particularly the United States and Britain, are urging the U.N. to expand its political role in Iraq. 

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) currently has 65 international employees in the country who handle basic political tasks there.  Officials say the draft resolution seeks to increase the number of staffers to about 95.  

After briefing the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe said he found wide support among members to increase the U.N.'s presence in Iraq.

"My very strong impression from this morning was that they [Security Council members] believe that this is where the U.N. should be, that they are happy that the U.N. is working these issues," she said.  "They all recognize the difficulties. They recognize the dangers, but I think it was - as nearly as I could tell - there was absolutely no dissent⁴ from the idea that the thrust of this resolution is exactly where we should be." 

Pascoe said the Iraqi people, as well as the Iraqi government, have asked the United Nations to do more on the ground.  He stressed that the U.N. will only work with the Iraqi government's full cooperation.  Pascoe said the speed at which tasks are accomplished⁵ depends upon the Iraqi government's willingness to move forward.

Zalmay Khalilzad

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad called the resolution a balanced one.  He emphasized that U.N. workers would be able to reach out to many groups and people, including those who refuse to deal directly with U.S. or British representatives in the country.  He said this includes powerful Shi'ite cleric Ali Hussein al-Sistani.

Khalilzad says U.N. staffers can promote national reconciliation⁶ in Iraq and reduce regional disagreement.

"There is a need for Iraqis to come to a national compact, an agreement among themselves, and that the U.N. can, given its comparative advantage, play a role in facilitating and helping⁷ Iraqis get to that goal," he said.

The mandate for the U.N. mission expires Friday.  The Security Council is set to vote Thursday.

1 presto   

adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的

参考例句：

• With something so important,you can't just wave a wand and presto!在这么重大的问题上，你想挥动一下指挥棒，转眼就变过来,办不到！
• I just turned the piece of wire in the lock and hey presto,the door opened.我把金属丝伸到锁孔里一拧，嘿，那门就开了。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

4 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

5 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。