UN calls for dialogue in Central African Republic

 UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Wednesday called on both the Central African Republic (CAR) government and rebels to halt violence and resolve the current crisis through dialogue.

"We continue to follow the situation in the Central African Republic with serious concern," said Martin Nesirky, a UN spokesperson, at a daily briefing.

"We are calling on both the government and the rebels to focus on dialogue that can avert¹ violence and lead to a peaceful resolution and respect for the Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement," he said.

The 2008 Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed by the government and the three main rebel groups and helped bring an end to conflicts inside the CAR.

Nesirky's remark coincided with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon and the UN Security Council's statements on the CAR last week.

The Security Council's statement called on "all parties to refrain from any acts of violence against civilians², respect human rights and seek a peaceful solution by engaging constructively³ in the regional effort led by the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS)."

Nesirky noted⁴ that the UN welcomes "regional efforts to seek a political solution and to reinforce security" in the tumultuous nation, that has been plagued with violence for over a decade.

The spokesperson also added that, as a security precaution, UN international staff have now all been temporarily relocated outside of CAR while the UN continues to "follow the situation in the Central African Republic with serious concern."

According to Nesirky, Margaret Vogt, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in CAR (BINUCA), has remained in close dialogue with the key parties in the CAR and the region and has offered support to political negotiations⁵.

As rebels move swiftly in its southward push and are about to approach the capital Bangui, the resource-rich but impoverished⁶ country is facing the biggest security challenge since forming a government in January 2009 after an inclusive political dialogue.

On Wednesday, unconfirmed figures from the rebels obtained by Xinhua showed that within the last three days of fighting, over 100 people, including 93 officers of the regular army and 12 people among the rebels, have died.

1 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• 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。

3 constructively   

ad.有益的，积极的

参考例句：

• Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom. 如此富有意义地利用业余时间来进行收藏，会使人怡然自得，无暇烦恼。
• The HKSAR will continue to participate constructively in these activities. 香港会继续积极参与这些活动。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• 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。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》