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Words
in the News
Wednesday 05 February 2003
Vocabulary from the news. Listen to and read the report then find
explanations of difficult words below.
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Small nations in the spotlight over Iraq
Summary: The US will probably soon ask the UN Security Council to vote for a resolution supporting war against Iraq. The US will need 9 votes out of 15 to get the resolution it wants. Does this mean some Council members will come under pressure to vote in favour? This report from Greg Barrow.
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The
News 
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Although there's no clear evidence that political pressures are being applied yet, some of the council's smaller nations like Guinea, Cameroon and Angola are bracing themselves. 43" No single nation wants to be put in the spotlight as the swing vote that could give the United States the nine votes it requires to get a new resolution through.
In the run-up to the last Gulf War, intense pressure was applied to nations that held important votes. Non-permanent members like Yemen, that voted against a key Security Council resolution authorising force against Iraq, found themselves punished economically by the US and had aid packages cut off. Others were rewarded with new aid initiatives for their 'yes' votes.
Greg Barrow, BBC
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The
Words
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pressures are being applied
if you apply pressure, you try to make someone do something
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the council
The Security Council is a UN committee which exists to settle international disputes
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bracing themselves
preparing themselves for something difficult
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in the spotlight
if you are in the spotlight, everyone is watching you
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swing vote
here, a country which has not yet chosen how to vote
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get a new resolution through
if you get a resolution through, you ask for a yes-vote and get it
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In the run-up to
in the time just before
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held important votes
if you hold a vote, you are allowed to vote
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authorising
officially allowing
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cut off
stopped
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Read
more about this story |
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Other Words in the News archives
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