VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton Lauds Irish Peace Process, Urges M

By Sonja Pace
London
12 October 2009
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised the peace process in Northern Ireland, saying it serves as an example for other conflict areas that bitter enemies can resolve differences peacefully. Secretary Clinton was addressing the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast, during a stop during her five-day trip to Europe and Russia.

 
US Sec. of State Hillary Clinton (C), N. Ireland's 1st Minister Peter Robinson (L), Deputy 1st Minister Martin McGuinness (R)  leave Belfast's Stormont Castle, 12 Oct 2009
Speaking to a packed chamber¹ at Stormont, the Northern Ireland Assembly, Hillary Clinton praised lawmakers for progress made in a long and often arduous² peace process.

"Today, Northern Ireland stands as an example to the world of how even the staunchest adversaries³ can overcome differences to work together for the common and greater good," she said.

For decades Northern Ireland was engulfed⁴ in sectarian violence, in which nearly 4,000 people were killed. It pitted the mostly Catholic Republicans, who want Northern Ireland free of British rule, against the predominantly protestant Unionists, who want to remain part of the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Clinton's husband, President Bill Clinton helped mediate⁵ a peace deal, the Good Friday Accord, in 1998. And, in May 2007 a new power-sharing government took over administration of Northern Ireland with bitter foes⁶ agreeing to sit together.

Since then, disagreements and suspicion have often kept the two sides from moving forward.

Secretary Clinton said no doubt progress had been difficult and divisions remain, but she urged the lawmakers to keep moving ahead.

"Even today many Catholics and Protestants live segregated⁷ lives; separate schools, separate neighborhoods, some still divided by walls. But given time and given the leadership that each of you can provide, the torn fabric⁸ of society will be woven together, stitch by stitch, choice by choice," she said.

Secretary Clinton warned against those seeking to disrupt the peace process, referring to dissident republicans who killed two British soldiers and a policeman earlier this year.

 
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves as she speaks with Armenian FM Edouard Nalbandian (R) at the University in Zurich, 10 Oct 2009
Clinton's visit to Europe began Saturday in Zurich, Switzerland to attend another reconciliation⁹ meeting - between long-time enemies Turkey and Armenia. The two countries agreed to establish diplomatic ties and re-open their borders. 

Hostilities¹⁰ between them stem from the mass killing¹¹ of Armenians by Ottoman Turkish forces during and after World War One.

Clinton also held talks in London, where Iran and Afghanistan figured prominently. She said the United States and others are willing to listen to Iran, but she warned patience would not last forever.

In an interview on British radio, Clinton said Washington remains¹² committed to the goals set out for Afghanistan, but she also said much more is expected of the Afghan government. 

Secretary Clinton heads to Moscow for talks with Russian leaders.

 

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 arduous   

adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的

参考例句：

• We must have patience in doing arduous work.我们做艰苦的工作要有耐性。
• The task was more arduous than he had calculated.这项任务比他所估计的要艰巨得多。

3 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

4 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

6 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。

7 segregated   

分开的； 被隔离的

参考例句：

• a culture in which women are segregated from men 妇女受到隔离歧视的文化
• The doctor segregated the child sick with scarlet fever. 大夫把患猩红热的孩子隔离起来。

8 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

9 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

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 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。

12 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。