VOA常速英语2008年-EU Launches Kosovo Mission Amid Tensions

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
20 February 2008

The European Union has begun setting up its 2,000-member police and judicial¹ mission in Kosovo, to oversee² the region's independence.  But as Stefan Bos reports for VOA from Budapest, the operation will need support of NATO-led peacekeepers, following attacks by Serbs opposing Kosovo's breakaway from Serbia.     

European Union envoy³ Pieter Feith, who heads the EU international civilian⁴ mission, officially opened his office after talks with Kosovo's government in the capital, Pristina.

Feith says about 2,000 police and judicial experts under his leadership will help Kosovo to function as an independent democratic state, with a fair judiciary and respect for minority rights.

"We are particularly attached because this is part of the European Union values, to respect human rights, freedoms [and] minority rights for all citizens here in Kosovo, including the Serb community," he said.

But his mission needs support from NATO peacekeepers, amid growing tensions in Kosovo.

The NATO-led force in Kosovo (K-FOR) has stepped up patrols after two key border crossings with Serbia were blown up this week by Serbs opposed to Kosovo's independence.

A French NATO officer told France-24 television through an interpreter, that K-FOR will not tolerate violent protests.

"For K-FOR this is an unacceptable act," he said.  "A line has been crossed and we will do everything in our disposal to confront this violence."

Russia views international recognition of Kosovo's independence as "a breach⁵ of international law" and has warned that it will open a "Pandora's Box" of separatist tensions across Europe.

Serbian President Boris Tadic has appealed for calm, calling for a peaceful rally on Thursday in Belgrade to protest Kosovo's independence declaration.

Despite Serbia's opposition⁶, the United States and a growing number of EU nations, including Britain and Germany, are recognizing Kosovo's sovereignty.  Serbia says it will withdraw its ambassadors from nations establishing diplomatic ties with Kosovo.

1 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

2 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

3 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 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。

6 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。