2006年VOA标准英语-UN Envoy Urges Prompt Settlement of Kosovo Stat

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
13 September 2006

The chief United Nations administrator¹ in Kosovo is warning that any delay in settling the region's status could lead to further instability. But as VOA's Peter Heinlein reports from U.N. headquarters, a Serbian official rejected calls for a quick settlement.

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Joachim Rucker (file photo)
  
U.N. special envoy² to Kosovo Joachim Rucker told the Security Council the people of Kosovo are increasingly nervous about their future status. He said a decision must be made quickly on whether the region will remain part of Serbia, or become independent.

"For the good of the future of the people of Kosovo, the current period of uncertainty³ needs to be brought to an end as soon as possible," he said.

Rucker, who assumed his post only days ago, told the Council there are bound to be tensions in the months ahead between Kosovo's ethnic⁴ Albanian majority, which make up 90 percent of the population, and the ethnic Serb minority. But he said no good would be served by delaying a final decision on the status question.

"Delay will not bring reconciliation," he said. "Delay will not lead to economic recovery. Delay will only prolong tensions in Kosovo society.

U.N. and U.S. officials have said they want a decision by the end of the year on whether the province remains⁵ part of Serbia or gains independence.

Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Jackie Sanders urged both sides to find a compromise that will satisfy the region's ethnically⁶ diverse population.

"Both sides must be realistic about the outcome of the status process," she said. "Kosovo must remain multi-ethnic and the settlement must be acceptable to the people of Kosovo. Additionally, There will be no return of Kosovo to the pre-1999 situation, no partition of Kosovo and no union of Kosovo with any other or part of, another country.

The top Serbian official in Kosovo, however, rejected calls for a quick settlement of the status issue. Sanda Raskovic-Ivic warned that a lasting⁷ settlement is possible only if artificial deadlines are set aside.

Speaking to the Security Council, she made clear that Belgrade is determined⁸ to retain Kosovo, and said the region's ethnic Albanian majority must be persuaded to accept broad autonomy within Serbia.

"The necessary political steps should be taken to persuade the Albanian side to give up extreme, exclusive demands and embrace a rational and compromise solution, namely substantial autonomy with comprehensive competences," she said.

 
Agim Ceku (file photo)
  
Kosovo's Prime Minister Agim Ceku attended the meeting but did not participate in the debate. But Albania's U.N. Ambassador Adrian Neritani called for what he called a 'realistic' solution.

"We stress our strong conviction that the most realistic, pragmatic and just solution of this status is independence," he said.

Talks on Kosovo's future status have been going on since February, with little progress.

Earlier this week, Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a report expressing disappointment with what he called "a lack of common ground" shown in the discussions.

United Nations administrators⁹ and an international peacekeeping force were sent to Kosovo in 1999 to contain ethnic hostilities¹⁰. A senior U.S. diplomat¹¹ visiting the region Wednesday was quoted as saying the international community would maintain its civilian¹² and military presence in Kosovo after its status is resolved.

1 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

2 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。

3 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

4 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。

5 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。

6 ethnically   

adv.人种上，民族上

参考例句：

• Ethnically, the Yuan Empire comprised most of modern China's ethnic groups. 元朝的民族成分包括现今中国绝大多数民族。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• Russia is ethnically relatively homogeneous. 俄罗斯是个民族成分相对单一的国家。 来自辞典例句

7 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

8 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。

9 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

10 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

11 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

12 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。