2007年VOA标准英语-UN Chief Welcomes Effort to Improve Iraq Securi

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations, New York
11 January 2007

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed efforts to bring greater security to Iraq. But as VOA's correspondent at the U.N. Peter Heinlein reports, the violence in and around Baghdad is worrying Mr. Ban as he considers whether to send more U.N. staff there.

Ban Ki-moon speaks during a news conference at the U.N. headquarters, 11 Jan 2007

In his first official news conference as U.N. chief, Ban Ki-moon avoided commenting directly on President Bush's plan to deploy¹ more troops to quell² Iraqi violence. But he said agreed with the president's goal of reducing the sectarian killings³.

He said, "Broadly speaking, however, the United Nations would welcome genuine efforts to improve security for ordinary Iraqis as well as to stabilize⁴ the country through a combination of security, political and economic means."

He said the United Nations would consult closely with the Iraqi government and what he called "other key stakeholders" to discuss how best to support stabilization⁵ efforts in Iraq. He expressed deep concern, however, that efforts to stop sectarian violence might lead to more death and suffering by ordinary Iraqis.

"It's very worrisome and we are very much concerned about this continuing [ectarian]violence, so we hope that the Iraqi government will take necessary measures to ensure their own political and social security, stability," he said.

The United Nations reduced its staff size to a bare minimum after the August 2003 bomb attack on U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. There are currently about 100 U.N. employees in the country, most of them humanitarian⁶ and political workers, protected by a force of about 200 Fijian guards.

Former U.N. chief Kofi Annan repeatedly rebuffed U.S. and other pleas for a larger U.N. commitment, and Secretary-General Ban is expected to be pressed again on the issue when he goes to Washington next week for talks with President Bush.

But when asked about increasing U.N. staff, Mr. Ban was noncommittal.

"We are still maintaining some mission there, we will continue to participate in that process as much as we can, our participation⁷ and contribution at this time is largely dictated⁸ by the security situation on the ground." he said. "We will closely consult and monitor the situation."

Mr. Ban also said he supports closing the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Noting that he was speaking on the fifth anniversary of the camp's opening, the secretary-general said he agreed with former Secretary-General Annan's call for its closure.

But he noted⁹ that President Bush, too, has said he would like to close the facility, where nearly 400 persons with suspected links to Al-Qaida and the Taliban are being held.

1 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

2 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

3 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

4 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

5 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

6 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

7 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 dictated   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
• No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 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。