VOA常速英语2007年-UN Strongly Condemns Bhutto Assassination, Call

By Barbara Schoetzau
United Nations
27 December 2007

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned² the assassination³ of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the Security Council held an emergency session to denounce her murder and call for calm. From VOA's New York  Bureau, correspondent Barbara Schoetzau has the details. 

Italian Ambassador Marcello Spatafora, the current head of the Security Council, says it was "absolutely necessary" to call a special Security Council meeting to quickly send a strong message to condemn¹ the killing⁴ as a heinous⁵ act of terrorism and to pay tribute to Benazir Bhutto.

Secretary-General Ban attended the emergency session and welcomed the Council's statement.

"I am shocked and outraged⁶ by the assassination of former Prime Minister Mrs. Benazir Bhutto and many other civilians⁷ who have been killed by this terrorist suicide bombing. I call upon the government authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice," Mr. Ban said.

In the statement, read by Ambassador Spatafora, the Council called on Pakistan and the international community to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The Security Council underlines the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible⁸ act of terrorism to justice and urges all states in accordance with their obligations under international law to cooperate actively⁹ with the Pakistani authorities in this regard," Spatafora said. "The Security Council reaffirms that terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations¹⁰ constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."

The statement also calls on Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability.

U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad described Ms. Bhutto as a symbol for moderation and the rule of law.

"Her death is a loss of the cause of moderation, democracy and rule of law for Pakistan," he said. "She was clear headed about the problems of her country, the challenges she faced, even the security challenges that she faced. I call for calm in Pakistan. I call for moderates to come together to present a united front against extremists and terror and for success of democracy and moderation in Pakistan.

Ms. Bhutto survived at least two other assassination attempts after returning home to Pakistan in mid-October from years in exile.

1 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

2 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

3 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 heinous   

adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的

参考例句：

• They admitted to the most heinous crimes.他们承认了极其恶劣的罪行。
• I do not want to meet that heinous person.我不想见那个十恶不赦的人。

6 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

7 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

8 reprehensible   

adj.该受责备的

参考例句：

• Lying is not seen as being morally reprehensible in any strong way.人们并不把撒谎当作一件应该大加谴责的事儿。
• It was reprehensible of him to be so disloyal.他如此不忠，应受谴责。

9 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

10 manifestations   

n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• These were manifestations of the darker side of his character. 这些是他性格阴暗面的表现。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• To be wordly-wise and play safe is one of the manifestations of liberalism. 明哲保身是自由主义的表现之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》