VOA标准英语2009年-Obama to Preside at UN Security Council

The United States has taken over the rotating presidency¹ of the 15-member United Nations Security Council for the month of September. U.S. President Barack Obama and other top U.S. political figures will be at the world body this month to highlight issues of importance to the United States.

September is a traditionally busy month at the United Nations because it is when the world's leaders convene² for the annual debate in the U.N. General Assembly.

This year, the U.S. presidency of the Security Council happens to coincide with this and offers the opportunity for important meetings at the highest levels.
　
U.S. United Nations Ambassador, Susan Rice

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice told reporters on Wednesday that the highlight of the U.S. presidency will be a summit-level Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation. It is scheduled to be held on September 24 and will be chaired by President Obama - the first time a U.S. president has led a Security Council meeting.

"This session will focus on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament broadly, and not on any particular countries. Key areas to be highlighted will include arms control and nuclear disarmament, and strengthening the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] regime, and denying and disrupting trafficking in and the securing of nuclear materials," she said.

Ambassador Rice said she expects a large number, if not all, of the 15 Security Council members to be represented at the head of state or government level. This would include Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi whose country holds a non-permanent seat on the council.

Mr. Gadhafi, a controversial figure, has come under international criticism recently for the hero's welcome in Libya of convicted Lockerbie bomber³ Abdel Basset al-Megrahi who was released from a U.K. prison because he is dying from cancer.

Ambassador Rice said "virtually every American" has been offended by the reception Megrahi received in his homeland.

"How President Gadhafi chooses to comport⁴ himself when he attends the General Assembly and the Security Council in New York has the potential either to further aggravate⁵ those feelings and emotions or not," she said.

In addition to the non-proliferation summit, Rice confirmed that President Obama will address the opening session of a climate change summit to be convened⁶ by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on September 22.

In keeping with U.N. tradition, the U.S. president will address the General Assembly on the first day of its annual debate, on September 23. All in all, President Obama is expected to spend three days at the United Nations.

On the Security Council's regular program of work this month will be a debate on the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in Haiti. Its mandate⁷ is due to expire next month, but it is expected to be renewed.

Earlier this year, Secretary-General Ban appointed former U.S. President Bill Clinton as his special envoy⁸ for Haiti, and Ambassador Rice announced that Mr. Clinton would attend next week's debate.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also be at the U.N. this month, attending a Security Council session expected to adopt a resolution expanding the protection of women in conflict zones.

 

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

3 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

4 comport   

vi.相称，适合

参考例句：

• His behavior did not comport with his office.他的行为与他的职务很不相称。
• A judge should comport himself authoritatively.法官举止必须要庄严。

5 aggravate   

vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火

参考例句：

• Threats will only aggravate her.恐吓只能激怒她。
• He would only aggravate the injury by rubbing it.他揉擦伤口只会使伤势加重。

6 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

7 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

8 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。