VOA标准英语2009年-US Supports Accountability for Darfur Crimes

The U.S. State Department, responding to Wednesday's International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir, said those who have committed atrocities² in Sudan should be held accountable for their crimes. The United States is not a party to the ICC but is understood to have provided some support for its Darfur war crimes inquiry³.
　
A Sudanese woman hold up a picture of President Omar al-Bashir during a rally protesting the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, in Khartoum, 04 Mar¹ 2009

U.S official say the prosecution⁴ of the Sudanese leader could be a "helpful step" in bringing peace to war-torn Darfur, and it is urging all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint in responding to the long-anticipated arrest warrant.

The Bush administration opposed the ICC on grounds that it lacked accountability and could be turned against American forces operating abroad, and in 2002 it withdrew former President Bill Clinton's signature on the Rome Statute⁵ that set up the court.

Nonetheless, in a statement responding to the ICC warrant against President Bashir, State Department Deputy Spokesman Gordon Duguid stressed that the United States supports accountability for crimes in Darfur, which it has termed genocide:

"The United States is strongly committed to the pursuit of peace in Sudan, and believes that those who have committed atrocities should be held accountable for their crimes," said Duguid. "We urge the government of Sudan, armed rebel groups, and all other concerned parties to exercise restraint in responding to the ICC arrest warrant that was issued today, and to assure the safety and security of vulnerable Sudanese populations, international civilians⁷, and peacekeepers on the ground. The United States will continue to support efforts to ease the suffering of the Sudanese people and to promote a just and durable⁸ peace."

Duguid said the United States remains⁹ committed to the full implementation¹⁰ of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on Sudan's north-south civil war, and also continues to support the Darfur peace mission of United Nations and African Union mediator¹¹ Djibril Bassole.

Pressed by reporters if the U.S. call for accountability meant it welcomes the arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir, Duguid said the ICC action "can be a helpful step," and that the United States will monitor how the case against the Sudanese leader proceeds.

As to U.S. diplomatic contacts with Mr. Bashir, Duguid noted¹² that the United States does not have full diplomatic relations with the Sudanese government and that the U.S. embassy in Khartoum is headed by a charge d'affaires.

He said because the United States takes the ICC action very seriously, any official U.S. contacts with Mr. Bashir would have to be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis, being very mindful of the charges against him.

After an intensive State Department investigation¹³, including interviews with Darfur refugees, former Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2004 described government-led attacks in Darfur as genocide. Despite not being a Rome Statute signatory, the United States has provided some support to the ICC in its Darfur inquiry, reportedly including aerial photos of the aftermath of attacks on villages.

Asked about that support Thursday, spokesman Duguid said he was not at liberty to discuss communication the United States may have had with the court. As to whether U.S. officials believe Mr. Bashir committed war crimes, Duguid said he would refrain from making statements that might influence court decisions.

A senior official who spoke⁶ to reporters here said the Obama administration is reviewing the issue of American membership in the ICC but that U.S. concerns about potential reckless prosecution of American troops abroad remain.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 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。

4 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

5 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

8 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

9 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。

10 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

11 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

13 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。