2006年VOA标准英语-Arab League Summit Opens, Several Key Lead

By Noel King
Khartoum
28 March 2006

Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir, right welcomes Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas in Khartoum, March 28, 2006   
  
A two-day Arab League Summit has convened¹ in Sudan's capital, Khartoum. The summit fielded a disappointing turn-out of only 12 heads of state. The absence of 10 leaders was a blow to Sudanese calls for solidarity² in the Arab world in the wake of western criticism.

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The Arab League Summit kicked off in Khartoum, despite the absence of 10 Arab leaders. The no-shows include Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.

Algerian President Abdel Aziz Buteflika gave an opening address to heads of state and those who attended in their absence.

Sudanese President Omer Al Bashir had reportedly hoped for a show of solidarity from the 22-member league in the wake of increasing international pressure. The United States and Europe have called for U.N. troops to intervene in Darfur, where an underfunded African Union mission is struggling to maintain a shaky cease-fire.

Sudan has forbidden any international intervention³.

Sudan's Information Minister Zahawi Malik brushed aside reports that Sudan has alienated⁴ its Arab neighbors. Malik told VOA he is not concerned about the absence of key figures, including Sudan's ally, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

"It is not the president who is going to represent the country. Those who can represent the country and who have the vision to carry on with the work of this assembly are warmly welcome. It does not matter if the president himself is to come. The president may have obligations which make it impossible for him to come," Malik noted⁵.

According to news reports, some of the absent leaders cited security concerns, and others political differences with the Sudanese government as the reason for not attending the summit.

In addition, several Arab diplomats⁶ say the U.S. government asked friendly Arab leaders to stay away to prevent a show of support for the Sudanese government during the Darfur crisis.

Malik said the United States should not intervene in Arab affairs.

"It is a matter of sovereignty. The freedom of any African country or Arab leader is to reject what humiliates⁷ his country and humiliates him. America has to be concerned with such gatherings⁸ because it is now mastering the world. But I do not think that it can put its finger concerning the Arab will to do what the Arabs want to do," he added.

Key resolutions at this year's summit are reconciliation⁹ in Iraq and an appeal for additional funding by radical¹⁰ Palestinian organization Hamas. The Palestinian Authority lost U.S. and European support after a January election gave Hamas the majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament. Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

This week's summit follows a tense African Union meeting in January in which Sudanese President Omer Al Bashir was denied the honorary AU chairmanship. African heads of state said Mr. Bashir needed to work harder to end the Darfur crisis.

The summit is to conclude Wednesday, but there have been some reports that heads of state will meet for the last time on Tuesday evening, due to the disappointing turnout.

1 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

2 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

3 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

4 alienated   

adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 他的言论使许多年轻选民离他而去。
• The Prime Minister's policy alienated many of her followers. 首相的政策使很多拥护她的人疏远了她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 humiliates   

使蒙羞，羞辱，使丢脸( humiliate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• His teacher continually humiliates him in maths lessons. 他的数学老师频频在课上羞辱他。
• The lowly vassals suffering all humiliates in both physical and mental aspects. 地位低下的奴仆，他们在身体上和精神上受尽屈辱。

8 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

9 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

10 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。