VOA标准英语2009年-UN Member States Begin Talks on Security Counci

United Nations member states met informally on Thursday to begin talks on key issues of reforming the body's powerful Security Council. Many countries want to see the 15-member council expanded to include broader regional representation and additional permanent members.
　
UN Security Council

The subject of Security Council reform and expansion is not new. It has been discussed along these corridors for more than 15 years. But on Thursday, member states finally met to get down to business.

Diplomats¹ say the private meeting was devoted² mostly to procedural issues and that substantive³ negotiations⁴ will begin early next month.

At issue is the makeup⁵ of the Security Council's membership, who gets veto power, regional representation, how big an enlarged council would be and what would be its working methods, and the relationship between the Security Council and the 192-member General Assembly.

In the past, regional rivalries⁶ and national interests have stalled the process and it remains⁷ to be seen whether that will happen again.

Pakistan's Ambassador, Husain Haroon, is optimistic, saying there has been a great deal of divisiveness in the past, but that views are starting to converge⁸.

"I think the negotiations, despite the worst pundit⁹ beliefs, I think will go well," said Haroon. "And I think people are going to listen to each other. And I think that if we work in that spirit of cooperation, we'll have a much better United Nations."

Strong regional powers Germany, Japan, India and Brazil have long-sought permanent seats on an expanded 25-member Security Council, but without immediate¹⁰ veto rights. African Union countries are also seeking to permanent seats council.

A separate proposal put forward by a group of mid-ranking countries seeks an additional 10 non-permanent seats on the council, doubling the current number.

The United States has said it would support Japan and Germany joining the council as permanent members. In the text of her statement to the closed-door meeting, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States believes that the long-term viability¹¹ and legitimacy¹² of the Security Council depends on its reflecting the world of the 21st century.

The council's balance of power still largely reflects the state of the world following World War II, with Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States holding permanent veto-wielding seats. Ten other countries are elected to two-year terms.

Substantive negotiations on the issues of membership, veto power and regional representation will start on March 4.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

3 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

6 rivalries   

n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
• Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨，或者引起争斗。 来自互联网

7 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。

8 converge   

vi.会合；聚集，集中；(思想、观点等)趋近

参考例句：

• The results converge towards this truth.其结果趋近于这个真理。
• Parallel lines converge at infinity.平行线永不相交。

9 pundit   

n.博学之人；权威

参考例句：

• Even the outstanding excellent graduate will learn constantly if he likes to be a pundit.即使最优秀的结业生，要想成为一个博学的人也要不断地研究。
• He is a well known political pundit.他是一个著名的政治专家。

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

11 viability   

n.存活(能力)

参考例句：

• What is required to achieve or maintain such viability? 要达到或维持这种生存能力需要什么？
• Scientists are experimenting to find ways to ensure the viability of seeds for even longer periods of time. 正如我们所说，科学家正在试验努力寻找让种子的生命力更加延长的方法。

12 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。