VOA标准英语2008年-Pakistan's Foreign Minister Presses UN for Bhut

Pakistan's foreign minister was at the United Nations Thursday lobbying the secretary-general and powerful member states to support his government's request for an independent commission to investigate the assassination¹ of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. From United Nation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
　
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the U.N. headquarters, 10 Jul 2008

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon Thursday afternoon to discuss his government's request, which was made early last month.

In it, the Pakistani government asked for an independent commission of inquiry² to be established to identify the "culprits, perpetrators, organizers and financiers" of Mrs. Bhutto's assassination last December. She was killed in a suicide attack during an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi.

In a read-out of the meeting, Mr. Ban's office said the U.N. chief had "responded positively³" to the request, but said further consultations⁴ with Pakistan and others within the U.N. would be necessary.

But both Qureshi and the secretary-general's office said a "broad understanding" had been reached on some major issues. The Pakistani minister listed them for reporters.
　
Benazir Bhutto addresses media representatives at a press conference in Karachi, 19 Oct 2007

"Broad understanding has been reached on the following issues - the nature of the proposed commission, funding modalities, composition of the commission, unhindered access to all sources of relevant information and elements to safeguard the objectivity, impartiality⁵ and independence of the commission," said Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Mr. Ban held a news conference on a wide array of subjects earlier in the day. When asked whether he had made any decision about an investigation⁶ commission he was non-committal and said he would discuss several points at length with the Pakistani minister.

While at the United Nations, Minister Qureshi said he also met with representatives of the permanent five members of the Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia. Although he indicated that it would not be necessary for the secretary-general to refer this matter to the council and that the U.N. chief could appoint the future commission.

On Friday, Qureshi travels to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other senior administration officials, as well as lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

 

1 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

2 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

3 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

4 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 impartiality   

n. 公平, 无私, 不偏

参考例句：

• He shows impartiality and detachment. 他表现得不偏不倚，超然事外。
• Impartiality is essential to a judge. 公平是当法官所必需的。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。