189  联合国轻武器大会在美遭到日益强烈的反对

US Faces Increased Opposition at Small Arms Conference
Owen Fay
United Nations
17 Jul 2001 22:27 UTC

The U.N. conference on the trade in small arms is in its second week. There is broad support for a resolution to ban the illegal sale of such weapons, but the U.S. 1)delegation continues to oppose the resolution. Washington is increasingly isolated and its opposition is drawing protest outside the U.N. headquarters.
Members of the U.S. delegation insist any U.N. 2)resolution that would threaten the Constitutional right of U.S. citizens to own and carry guns is unacceptable. That position is at odds with the majority of countries taking part in the conference. It has also sparked a protest 3)rally outside the U.N. headquarters by groups favoring government gun controls.
Sally Joss is the 4)coordinator of the International Action Network on Small Arms. For her, despite the U.S. position, the success of this conference is critical. "The proliferation, the spread, and the 5)misuse of small arms and light weapons is a global problem. And it is government's responsibility to take action and save lives and stop gun-running now. The U.N. conference on the 6)illicit trade of small arms and light weapons in all its aspects is the first time the world's governments have come together to discuss this issue."
Other participants at the protest rally spoke of family members killed by gun violence and the 7)devastating effects of the illegal arms trade. They say their goal is to persuade the U.S. delegation to change its position and 8)endorse a resolution to curb illegal trade.
At the moment, that appears unlikely. However, all participants at the conference insist that, despite wide differences, a 9)compromise resolution can still be worked out.

(1) delegation[delI5^eIF(E)n]n.代表团, 授权, 委托
(2) resolution[rezE5lu:F(E)n]n.坚定, 决心, 决定, 决议
(3) rally[5rAlI]v.重整旗鼓, 给予新力量,力量, 决心, 集结n.集会
(4) coordinator[kEJ`R:dIneItE(r)]n.协调者, 同等的人或物
(5) misuse[mIs5ju:z]v. n.误用, 错用, 滥用, 虐待
(6) illicit[I5lIsIt]adj.违法的
(7) devastating[5devEsteItIN]adj.破坏性的, 全然的
(8) endorse[In5dC:s]v.签注(文件), 认可, 签署
(9) compromise[5kRmprEmaIz]n.妥协, 折衷v.妥协, 折衷