VOA标准英语2010年-UAE Answers US Blackberry Criticism

A man talks on his smart phone at the Dubai Financial Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 30 Nov 2009

The United Arab Emirates says it is disappointed with the United States for criticizing its decision to ban key Blackberry communication services.

 

United Arab Emirate officials say they plan to suspend Blackberry Messenger, email and Web browser¹ functions, saying they pose a threat to national security because they cannot be monitored.

On Monday, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley called the UAE move to restrict Blackberry use a "dangerous precedent²" in limiting freedom of information.

But UAE officials say his comments contradict America's approach to telecommunications regulation. 

UAE Ambassador to the United States, Yousef al Otaiba, is quoted by the national news agency WAM as saying his country requires compliance³ with its laws for the same reason the United States has regulatory laws.  He says the United Arab Emirates is trying to protect national security and assist in law enforcement.

But critics of UAE information laws, such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters without Borders, say the country's conservative government tries to control content it deems politically or morally objectionable.

The director general of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Mohammed Nasser al Ghanim, points out his government has been trying to work out a way to monitor Blackberry output with the device's developer, Research In Motion.  He says officials only agreed to a ban after a compromise could not be reached.

"The suspension is a result of failed ongoing⁴ attempts dating back to 2007 to bring Blackberry services in the UAE in line with the telecommunications regulations," he said. "Under the current form, certain Blackberry services allow users to act without any legal accountability causing judicial⁵, social and national security concerns in the UAE."

Emirati journalist Sultan al Qassemi believes the United Arab Emirates will work out an agreement with Research In Motion before the ban is scheduled to begin on October 11.

"I think the UAE wants to sort this out.  We want to be a business friendly country," he said.  "The TRA understands that Blackberry is a very important business tool to attract businessmen and banks.  You cannot but have this service functioning in the UAE; however, there are security concerns.  We have challenges in the region, including terrorism."

Despite the risks, al Qassemi says most people in the country are against the restrictions⁶. "There has been a huge outburst on Twitter.  A lot of people are expressing their disappointment.  I called Research in Motion an arrogant⁷ company in one of my tweets and a lot of people were very upset with me.  There is a lot of emotional attachment⁸ to Blackberry.  The vast majority of people use it for legal activities, but you have a minority who the government is worried about and that is where this ban came from," he said.

At the moment, it is impossible for countries like the United Arab Emirates to monitor Blackberry output because the handsets automatically send encrypted data to computer servers abroad.  There are an estimated 500,000 Blackberry users in the UAE.
 

1 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

2 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

3 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

8 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。