英伦广角 2009-04-05 北约峰会场外成战场

As world leaders discussed the conflict in Afghanistan, demonstrators fought the police. The center of Strasbourg is a fortress¹, but it didn't stop property from being smashed and set alight.

 

As you can see, several hundred protesters have gathered here on the outskirts² of the city of Strasbourg. The demonstration³ has turned pretty ugly. These protesters are throwing bottles and rocks at the police. The police are returning fire with tear gas and also firing a number of plastic rounds.

 

The security operation has cost more than a hundred million pounds. Some of the demonstrations⁴ have been peaceful. This group of students block the main tramline to the summit to make their points. 

 

"Maybe it's peaceful here, but we bring a war all over the world. So we bring war to Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, uh, in African countries, we, so we bring, it's peaceful here, but NATO brings war, exports war all over the world. "

 

Members of the alliance were kept well away from the pitched battles. The German Chancellor⁵ Angela Merkel led a symbolic⁶ crossing of the Rhine. They were greeted in France by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Two nations whose histories are entwined in conflict, now united through a 60-year-old alliance. The mission in Afghanistan is losing its way in the face of a determined⁷ Taliban insurgency⁸. Europe has promised to stump⁹ up a further five thousand troops, but the extra contingent¹⁰ will only be on duty to provide security for the upcoming Afghan elections.

 

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged an additional one-thousand soldiers. He says stability in Afghanistan is vital for European security.

 

"The Afghan government, in return for NATO's support must step up its efforts on tackling corruption¹¹ and tackling the drugs trade which not only disrupts our communities in Britain, but also increasingly funds insurgency and terrorism."

 

Hamid Karzai also came under pressure. Mr. Brown says after he had words, the Afghan leader will now repeal¹² Taliban-style legislation against women. Italy had also threatened to withdraw its female soldiers from the country.

 

"The Minister of Justice will study the whole law, every item of it very very carefully. If there is anything that is of concern to us, then we will definitely take action and send it back to the Parliament. You will be assured of that, this is something that we are also serious about and we should not allow. "

 

A new NATO Secretary General, too. The Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will take up the post later this year. The NATO Alliance has managed to show some unity¹³. But as demonstrators clash with the police, there are still questions about what role NATO will have as it enters its seventh decade. 

 

 

Alex Rossi, Sky News, Strasbourg.

 

1 fortress   

n.堡垒，防御工事

参考例句：

• They made an attempt on a fortress.他们试图夺取这一要塞。
• The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔车攀登上了要塞的城墙。

2 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

6 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

9 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

10 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

11 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

12 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

13 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。