VOA标准英语2011--UN: Afghanistan at Crossroads
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2011年(七月)
UN: Afghanistan at Crossroads
The top United Nations diplomat 1 in Afghanistan said Wednesday that the country is at a crossroads as it begins taking on responsibility for its own security.
The senior U.N. envoy 2 in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, told the U.N. Security Council that Afghanistan's transition is like a train that is on track and moving forward.
"Transition cannot be and should not be only security," said de Mistura. "It has to be something more. It needs to be a transition to something that the Afghan people recognize and identify with. That's why we are working together in order to ensure that the results of social, economic and, frankly 3, human rights aspects are linked to the transition."
De Mistura added that the security situation in Afghanistan has been an issue of concern recently, with Taliban attacks on various sites, including a hospital and a major hotel in the capital. But he noted 4 that all of the attacks were responded to by the Afghan military and police.
Afghanistan's U.N. representative, Zahir Tanin, told the Security Council that his country is at a "critical juncture 5." He called the increase in Taliban attacks a conspicuously 6 well-orchestrated attempt to incite 7 fear among Afghans and hinder international support for his country.
"Moreover, the recent campaign seeks to sabotage 8 the future of peace talks and undermine the prospect 9 of reconciliation," he said. "Those who provide terrorists and extremists with money, arms and strategic guidance are equally responsible for the continued killing 10 and brutal 11 butchery of innocent civilians 12 in Afghanistan."
Regarding the decision of Afghanistan's special election court to call for the election results for 62 seats in the country's national assembly to be thrown out because of fraud, Ambassador Tanin said Afghanistan is not facing a constitutional crisis. He told the Security Council that the Afghan government is committed to resolving the issue within the framework of a legal and political solution.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said Washington is consulting with Afghan officials and international partners on the election controversy 13.
"We urge Afghanistan's political leaders and all Afghan institutions to act within their clearly defined areas of competence 14 in accordance with the Afghan constitution and electoral law, preserving the necessary system of checks and balances between the judicial 15, executive and legislative 16 branches," said Rice.
Rice said it is important for Afghanistan's parliament to fulfill 17 its constitutional role on behalf of the Afghan people.
- 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。
- 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。
- To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
- Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。
- 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。
- The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
- It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。
- France remained a conspicuously uneasy country. 法国依然是个明显不太平的国家。
- She figured conspicuously in the public debate on the issue. 她在该问题的公开辩论中很引人注目。
- I wanted to point out he was a very good speaker, and could incite a crowd.我想说明他曾是一个非常出色的演讲家，非常会调动群众的情绪。
- Just a few words will incite him into action.他只需几句话一将，就会干。
- They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
- The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。
- This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
- The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
- 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。
- She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
- They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
- the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
- At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。
- That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
- We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。
- This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
- These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。
- 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。
- Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
- Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。