Israel-Palestinian Conflict Should Not Impede Arab Reforms,

 

By Michael Drudge
The United States says social, political and economic reforms in Muslim countries should not be deterred¹ because of the ongoing² conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed the view after a meeting in Morocco to promote modernization³ in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
The Morocco meeting brought together senior officials from more than 20 predominately Muslim countries stretching from Mauritania to Pakistan, along with ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
The meeting has produced broad agreement on a reform agenda to promote human rights, democracy and free market economies. But some differences remain over the impact the Israeli-Palestinian conflict exercises over the reform project.
The Moroccan foreign minister, Mohammed Benaissa, indicated the commitment to reform will be linked to progress on creating a Palestinian state.
"The participants affirmed that their support to reforms in the region will occur in parallel with their support to finding a solution to the Palestinian conflict," he said.
Secretary of State Powell said the Palestinian issue should not stand in the way of the reform agenda.
"What we heard in the conference was that we very much want to see progress toward the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, " Secretary Powell said. "We also want to see reform take place. And reform does not have to wait for that. Obviously as that situation improves, and if we start moving down that track, then I think conditions are created for faster reform."
Mr. Powell also has stressed the threat of Islamic terrorism to the region and the world. He says the West must work with Muslim countries to address the despair and frustration⁴ that extremists exploit.
U.S. Treasury⁵ Secretary John Snow also attended the conference, and announced a $60 million project to provide training and technical assistance for small businesses. He said the best way to stimulate⁶ development is to create jobs in the region, where 50 percent of the working age population is unemployed⁷.
Michael Drudge，VOA News, Rabat, Morocco.
注释：
Israel-Palestinian conflict 巴以冲突
impede阻止
deter阻止
Morocco摩洛哥
Mauritania 毛利塔尼亚(北非古国)
in parallel with与...同时
frustration 挫败, 挫折
Treasury Secretary 财政大臣
technical assistance技术援助
Rabat 拉巴特(摩洛哥首都)

1 deterred   

v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. 我已告诉他我不感兴趣，可他却不罢休。
• Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism. 杰里米没有因这一批评而却步。 来自辞典例句

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

4 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

5 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

6 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

7 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。