2006年VOA标准英语-EU's Solana: Mideast 'Road Map' Peace Plan Stal

By Jim Teeple
26 October 2006

Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief held talks Thursday with senior Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Mr. Solana says Mideast peace efforts are stalled.

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Javier Solana    
  
Javier Solana urged Israeli leaders to stop building illegal settlements in the West Bank, reopen a crucial border crossing, and expressed concern over comments made to him by an Israeli politician about the permanence of West Bank settlements.

The EU foreign policy chief says there is no question that mideast peace efforts are now stalled.

"As far as the Israeli Palestinian peace process, we have the feeling that it is now stalled," he said. "We would very much to see if we can with cooperation of all the parties to see if some movement can be put in place to give not only hope for the people but also realities on the ground."

Solana urged Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which Israel has closed for security reasons.

He also said he is concerned about comments made to him by member of the Israeli cabinet who reportedly told the EU diplomat¹ that Israel has no plans to remove West Bank settlements or outposts, as called for under the "road map" peace plan.

Solana was apparently² referring to Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of a far right political party that advocates annexing³ the settlements and expelling large numbers of Israeli Arab citizens.

Lieberman who held talks with Solana on Wednesday joined Israel's cabinet this week. Under the road map plan, Israel is to stop building settlements and Palestinians are to stop terrorist attacks against Israelis - measures aimed at leading to negotiations⁴ toward a two-state solution. 

Javier Solana, left, addresses media together with Tzipi Livni in Tel Aviv, Oct. 26, 2006  
  
Solana's comments came at a news conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who said Israel is still committed to the road map peace plan, but Israelis are increasingly concerned about whether they will ever have a reliable partner for peace in the Palestinian territories.

"Unfortunately the situation on the ground in the Gaza Strip sends the wrong message to Israelis - to those who supported disengagement - I believe those Palestinians who want to live in a state of their own and who believe in a two-state solution should take responsibility and act - in order to help us and help all those moderates in the region," she said.

Following his talks with Israeli officials, Solana traveled to the West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Aides traveling with the EU diplomat said he would urge the Palestinian leader to move forward with plans to create a Palestinian unity⁵ government which could begin to receive international aid.

Nearly all international aid to the Palestinians has been suspended since Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel, took control of the Palestinian Authority - following parliamentary elections earlier this year.

However, following their meeting, Mr. Abbas said he saw little likelihood of a unity government being formed between his Fatah political faction⁶ and Hamas. In recent days the Palestinian president has said he will instead work towards establishing a government made up of technocrats⁷ - something Hamas leaders say they oppose.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 annexing   

并吞( annex的现在分词 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）

参考例句：

• In addition to annexing territory, they exacted huge indemnities. 割地之外，又索去了巨大的赔款。
• He succeeded in annexing all the property of Hindley's and the Linton's. 他成功的占有了亨得利和林顿的所有财产。

4 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。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

6 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

7 technocrats   

n.技术专家，专家政治论者( technocrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Few business barons remained. They were replaced by "technocrats," who became the heads of corporations. 企业巨头所剩无几，大多已被“技术专家”所代替，这些人成了公司的领导。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• However, bankers called the technocrats' bluff and proceeded to lend with gusto. 但是，银行家们称技术专家官员不过在虚张声势，并且还会乐观的继续借贷业务。 来自互联网