2007年VOA标准英语-Khalilzad Calls Middle East 'Defining Challenge

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
24 April 2007

Veteran U.S. diplomat¹ Zalmay Khalilzad has taken over as ambassador to the United Nations, saying he sees the greater Middle East as the defining challenge of our times. From U.N. headquarters, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports Khalilzad left almost immediately on a Security Council fact-finding mission to Kosovo.

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Departing U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad gestures during a press conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, 26 Mar 2007

The Afghan-born American ambassador comes to the United Nations directly after serving as Washington's envoy⁴ to Iraq. He earlier served as ambassador to his native Afghanistan.

Speaking to reporters on his second day at U.N. headquarters, Khalilzad said his priorities will include increasing the world body's engagement in Iraq, which has been limited since the 2003 terrorist attack on U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. He said a lot is at stake in Iraq, not only for Iraqis, but for the entire Middle East.

"What happens in Iraq is important for Iraqis, but its also important for the future of region," he said.  "And future of the region, of the broader Middle East, is the defining challenge of our time, the way Europe was for a long time the source of many of the world's security problems. Unfortunately, many of the security problems of world emanates⁵ from that region."

Khalilzad said he would also be focusing on African issues, in particular persuading Sudan to accept the so-called 'hybrid⁶ force' of U.N. and African Union peacekeepers in Darfur.

We would like government of Sudan to cooperate with the hybrid force, not only to cooperate in words, but in reality on ground, in deed, and what will support engagement with the government in Sudan, but appropriate pressure as necessary to increase its incentive⁷ to do the right thing to allow strengthening of the forces that are there to improve the security situation as part of a comprehensive approach to deal with the problem of Darfur," he added.

Khalilzad succeeds former U.S. ambassador John Bolton, who earned a reputation for combativeness⁸ as he aggressively pursued U.S. interests. Khalilzad said he, too would speak out for American values, but suggested his style would be different.

"I for my part will do what I can, by engaging others, listening to them, being respectful, I believe that we don't have all the answers, and others have good ideas as well, and I will be thoughtfully listening to them," he noted⁹.  "I'm a problem solver, I will not posture¹⁰, I will work to resolve together differences that we have so we can advance the agenda, which is to improve the situation for the people of the world."

Khalilzad, a Muslim who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the American University in Beirut, said Lebanon would also be among his priorities. He pledged to work with his fellow ambassadors and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on pushing Lebanon's government to establish a tribunal in the murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

Khalilzad's first focus, however will be Kosovo. In only his second day of the job, he joined other Security Council ambassadors on a trip to the Balkans to determine whether to accept a U.N. envoy's recommendation that the Serbian province be granted independence. When a reporter asked if he had a message for the people of Kosovo, he replied, "The message is, it is time to bring this issue to closure."

1 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。

2 fortified   

adj. 加强的

参考例句：

• He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. 他喝了一杯热饮御寒。
• The enemy drew back into a few fortified points. 敌人收缩到几个据点里。

3 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

4 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。

5 emanates   

v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的第三人称单数 )；产生，表现，显示

参考例句：

• He emanates power and confidence. 他表现出力量和信心。
• He emanates sympathy. 他流露出同情。 来自辞典例句

6 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

7 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

8 combativeness   

n.好战

参考例句：

• While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. 他们与耶稣同在时，只要有人对耶稣表示轻视，就会激起他们的愤恨和抨击。 来自互联网

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。

10 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。