Foreign ministers from the United States, Britain, France and the Arab League met separately and together behind closed doors at the United Nations Wednesday, seeking an end to nearly two weeks of deadly fighting in the Gaza Strip. After hours of talks, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters that there "is still work to do" to reach a consensus.
美国、英国、法国和阿拉伯联盟各国的外交部长星期三在联合国分别或一道举行闭门会议，谋求结束在加沙地带持续了将近两个星期的流血冲突。美国国务卿赖斯对记者说，要达成共识，还有工作要做。
The U.S., British and French foreign ministers said they would stay in New York for a third day to lead Western efforts at finding a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants.
美国、英国和法国的外长们说，他们将在纽约逗留第3天，领导西方国家的努力，寻找在以色列和哈马斯激进分子之间停止敌对行动的途径。
Following an evening meeting with Arab foreign ministers, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke briefly to reporters. "We believe there is still work to do. [French Foreign] Minister [Bernard] Kouchner, [British] Foreign Secretary [David] Miliband and I are extending our stays and we still believe there is work to do," she said.
美国国务卿赖斯在晚间会晤阿拉伯国家外长之后，对记者发表简短讲话说：“我们认为，还有工作要做。法国外长库什内、英国外交大臣米利班德和我将延长在纽约的停留，我们仍然认为，这里有工作要做。”
Arab ministers leaving the meeting echoed her response.
阿拉伯国家的外长在离开会晤地点时也作出同样表示。
The Security Council remains split over two possible responses to halt Israel's military incursion into the Gaza Strip to silence Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel.
联合国安理会在停止以色列对加沙地带的军事进攻的两种可能选择的反应方面有分歧。以色列的进攻是为了终止哈马斯对以色列南部的火箭攻击。
One option is a legally-binding U.N. resolution demanding an "immediate and permanent cease-fire" and the lifting of Israel's blockade on Gaza put forth by council-member Libya on behalf of the Arabs. The other option is a weaker, non-binding statement, drafted by France, the United States and Britain, that emphasizes that a "durable cease-fire will require arrangements and guarantees", including preventing the smuggling of weapons to the militants and the reopening of border crossings.
一种选择是，落实具有法律效力的联合国决议，这项决议要求立即和永久停火，要求以色列停止对加沙的封锁。这项决议的发起国是安理会理事国利比亚，它是代表阿拉伯国家发起这一决议的。另一个选择是一项经过软化的、不具有法律效力的声明。这个声明是法国、美国和英国起草的。该声明强调“持久的停火将要求作出一些安排和保证”。包括防止向激进分子走私武器，重新开放过境点。
French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, whose country holds the council's rotating presidency this month, said all 15 members want to work toward a unanimous position but they are not there yet. "There is no unanimity today on either of those texts and because we want to go forward in a common approach we have decided to continue our talks and negotiations."
法国是本月安理会的轮值主席。法国大使里佩尔说，安理会15个成员国都希望达成一致立场，但是他们还没有做到这一点。他说：“今天，在两种决议的文字上都还没有达成一致立场。因为我们希望以共同的立场向前迈进。我们决定继续对话和谈判。”
Diplomats close to the discussions say there is some convergence on the substance, but not yet on the form it will take.
据接近相关讨论的外交官说，各国在决议的实质内容上有一些共同点。但是在决议的形式上还有分歧。
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has put forth his own initiative, offering to mediate between the Israeli and Palestinian sides in Cairo as soon as possible.
同时，埃及总统穆巴拉克提出了他自己的建议，他提出尽快在开罗举行多方会谈，由埃及在以色列和巴勒斯坦人之间进行斡旋。
But Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters that Israel has so far only agreed to send a high-level technical team to Cairo. "They [the Israelis] have been indicating willingness or that it is a positive step. But there is not yet a clear cut recognition and acceptance," he said.
但是埃及外长盖特对记者说，到目前为止以色列只同意派遣一个高层技术小组去开罗。他说：“以色列暗示，它愿意来谈判，或者说，这是一种可能性。但是它还没有明确承认和接受这一点。”
The United States, Britain, France and the Arab ministers will resume their negotiations Thursday morning.
美国、英国、法国和阿拉伯各国的部长们将在星期四上午再次会谈。 |