VOA标准英语2010年-ICJ: Kosovo Independence Does Not Viol

Kosovars celebrate the ICJ ruling of the legality of independence declaration as they take pictures at the 'NEWBORN' obelisk¹ in capital Pristina, 22 July 2010

The United Nations International Court of Justice has ruled that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 does not violate international law.

 

"The Court considers that general international law does not contain any prohibition² on declarations of
independence," said the president of the International Court of Justice, Hisashi Owada, as he read the court's non-binding opinion.  "Accordingly, it concludes that the declaration of independence [of Kosovo] on the 17th of February 2008 did not violate general international law."

That ruling came as a setback³ for Serbia, which had asked the International Court of Justice, the ICJ, to give an opinion on Kosovo's declaration. Serbian President Boris Tadic said Serbia would not recognize Kosovo's independence.

Kosovo officials hailed the decision.  In Washington, visiting Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci called the ruling "the best possible answer for the entire world." 

Trial observers said the court's non-binding ruling could encourage more countries to recognize Kosovo's independence. Kosovo's statehood has been recognized by 69 countries, including the United States and most European Union nations. But Serbia and its main ally Russia and several others have opposed the move.

In Washington, the U.S. State Department expressed support for the ICJ ruling and urged Europe to "unite behind a common future."

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said the U.N. chief urged "constructive⁴ dialogue" and urged all sides to "avoid any steps that could be seen as provocative⁵ and derail the dialogue." The spokesman said the advisory⁶ opinion would be forwarded to the General Assembly, which would "determine how to proceed on this matter."

Kosovo was placed under U.N. supervision⁷ in 1999, following a 78-day NATO bombing campaign that ended a two-year war between Serbia and the ethnic⁸ Albanian majority in Kosovo, which was then a Serbian province.
 

1 obelisk   

n.方尖塔

参考例句：

• The obelisk was built in memory of those who died for their country.这座方尖塔是为了纪念那些为祖国献身的人而建造的。
• Far away on the last spur,there was a glittering obelisk.远处，在最后一个山峦上闪烁着一个方尖塔。

2 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。

3 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

4 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。

5 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

6 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

7 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

8 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。