113 叙利亚声称以色列可能发动中东战争

113 叙利亚声称以色列可能发动中东战争

Syrian FM Warns of Mideast War
Laurie Kassman
London
5 Jul 2001 17:40 UTC

Syria's foreign minister was in London to open a two-day business 1)conference aimed at promoting British investment in Syria. But he warned that Israel is leading the Middle East to the 2)brink¹ of war.
Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara'a said the Arab states are not interested in a 3)conflict with Israel. But he accuses Israel of leading the region to war. "What Israel is doing, what it has already done, is a step forward to reach the brink of war, which nobody likes," he said. "But if we are to face that, we will defend ourselves with all the means that we have. And, we hope the Israelis will be wiser than to bring the region to the brink of war."
Syria had made the same 4)accusation last Sunday, after two Syrian soldiers were wounded during an Israeli strike on a Syrian military position in southern Lebanon. Israel had said it was responding to attacks by Syrian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas in a 5)disputed area there.
Mr. Shara'a says he discussed the recent developments with Britain's new foreign secretary, Jack² Straw. He told a London news conference the situation in the Middle East is "explosive". He said 6)regional peace is still a long way off. "It's a long way to go. But we are patient," he said. "We are determined³ not to give up, not to 7)capitulate, no matter how Israel is strong. And time is on our side."
Mr. Shara'a complained about the lack of 8)unity within the European Union concerning the peace process. And he criticizes the U.S. administration for not taking a tougher attitude toward Israel. "As far as the United States is concerned, it's the strongest on earth, but yet it is not using its strength, except to stand by Israel," he said. "This is unfortunate."
Mr. Shara'a says he also talked with Foreign Secretary Straw about the international sanctions policy against Iraq. He repeated Arab concerns the sanctions are not working and should not be continued. Mr. Shara'a 9)dismissed reports that Syria is smuggling⁴ Iraqi oil in 10)violation of the current sanctions policy.

(1) conference[5kRnfErEns]n.会议, 讨论会, 协商会
(2) brink[brINk]n.(峭岸、崖的)边缘
(3) conflict[5kRnflIkt]n.斗争, 冲突vi.抵触, 冲突
(4) accusation[Akju:zeIF(E)n]n.谴责, [律]指控
(5) disputed v.争议
(6) regional[5ri:dVEn(E)l]adj.整个地区的
(7) capitulate[kE5pItjJleIt]vi.有条件投降, 认输, 屈服
(8) unity[5ju:nItI]n.团结, 联合, 统一
(9) dismiss[dIs5mIs]vt.解散, 下课, 开除vi.解散
(10) violation[ 9vaIE`leIFEn ]n.违反, 违背, 妨碍

 

1 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。