VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Calls for 'New Era' of Global Engage

By David Gollust
United Nations
23 September 2009
 
President Barack Obama addresses the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 23 Sep 2009
President Barack Obama, in his first policy speech to the U.N. General Assembly, said the United States is ready to begin a "new chapter" of international cooperation after years of difficult relations with the world body. Mr. Obama pledged unwavering U.S. efforts toward Middle East peace and diplomacy¹ with North Korea and Iran to resolve concerns over their nuclear programs.

Mr. Obama said his administration, in its nine months in office, has dealt with many of the issues that created a strained relationship between the United States and the international community during the Bush administration.

But he says the United States can't solve the world's problems alone and it is time for all U.N. member nations to assume their share of responsibility for dealing² with global challenges including climate change and non proliferation.

In a nearly 40-minute policy speech, the president cited, among other things, his orders to end any torture of detainees and close the Guantanamo Bay detention³ center, and the appointment of senior envoy⁴ George Mitchell to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

He said the administration initiatives have already yielded some progress. But, he said the tasks exceed the capacity of the United States alone and that collective efforts, are needed including by critics of past U.S. policy.

"But make no mistake," said President Obama. "This cannot be solely⁵ America's endeavor. Those who used to chastise⁶ America for acting⁷ alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone. We have sought in word and deed a new era of engagement with the world. And now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

Mr. Obama, a day after brokering⁸ the first face-to-face meeting between Israeli and Palestinian leaders since the Gaza war late last year, said the United States will continue its pursuit of a two state solution to the Middle East conflict.

He said that requires an end to anti-Israel incitement⁹ by the Palestinians and said the United States does not "accept the legitimacy¹⁰" of continued Israeli settlements.

He also said other members of the world community owe the drive for Middle East peace more than just verbal support.

"The United States does Israel no favors when we fail to couple an unwavering commitment to its security with an insistence¹¹ that Israel respect the legitimate¹² claims and rights of the Palestinians, "said Mr. Obama. "And, nations within this body do the Palestinians no favors when they choose vitriolic¹³ attacks against Israel over constructive¹⁴ willingness to recognize Israel's legitimacy and its right to exist in peace and security."

Mr. Obama, due to chair a special U.N. Security Council session Wednesday on nuclear disarmament, said nuclear actions by Iran and North Korea threaten to take the world down a "dangerous slope" toward uncontrolled proliferation.

He said his administration is committed to diplomacy to resolve concerns about the two countries' nuclear ambitions but that this is yet another area in which active support of the world community is needed.

"If they put the pursuit of nuclear weapons ahead of regional stability and the security and opportunity of their own people, if they are oblivious¹⁵ to the dangers of escalating¹⁶ nuclear arms races in both East Asia and the Middle East, then they must be held accountable," said President Obama. "The world must stand together to demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise."

Mr. Obama spoke¹⁷ in advance of meeting at the U.N. late Wednesday of foreign ministers of the five permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany - the P5+1, who have been trying to re-engage Iran in negotiations¹⁸ on its nuclear program.

P5+1 diplomats¹⁹ are to hold a critical meeting with Iran's nuclear negotiator on October 1 to determine if Iran is prepared to discuss an end to a uranium enrichment program believed to be weapons-related.

1 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 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。

5 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

6 chastise   

vt.责骂，严惩

参考例句：

• My father used to chastise my brothers with whips.父亲过去常以鞭打惩罚我的兄弟。
• Should I applaud my husband or chastise him?我是该称赞还是责罚我的丈夫呢？

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 brokering   

v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的现在分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• Intertwined with these were rivalry, power brokering, and patronage. 然而也不乏有抗争、强权操纵与任命特权交织其中。 来自互联网
• Kingston Quest Can Assist Your Company In Negotiations, Brokering, Agency Services, Sourcing Factories Or Property. 金士顿追求，可帮助您的公司在谈判中，经纪，代理服务，货源工厂或财产。 来自互联网

9 incitement   

激励； 刺激； 煽动； 激励物

参考例句：

• incitement to racial hatred 种族仇恨的挑起
• Interest is an incitement to study. 兴趣刺激学习。

10 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

11 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

12 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

13 vitriolic   

adj.硫酸的，尖刻的

参考例句：

• The newspaper launched a vitriolic attack on the president.这家报纸对总统发起了一场恶意的攻击。
• Vitriolic impurity is contained normally in the sewage that vitriolic factory discharges.硫酸厂排放的污水中通常含有硫酸杂质。

14 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

15 oblivious   

adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的

参考例句：

• Mother has become quite oblivious after the illness.这次病后，妈妈变得特别健忘。
• He was quite oblivious of the danger.他完全没有察觉到危险。

16 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

17 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。

18 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

19 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》