2006年VOA标准英语-UN Secretary-General Expects Resolution on Leba

By Barbara Schoetzau
New York
10 August 2006

The United States and France are continuing intense negotiations¹ to agree on a joint² resolution to present to the U.N. Security Council, aimed at a truce³ between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.  Secretary-General Kofi Annan still believes it is possible to adopt a resolution by the end of the week.

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Kofi Annan

Diplomats⁴ from the United States and France are said to be close to resolving differences over a resolution to end the fighting. The main issue continues to be one of sequencing. Lebanon and France demand that Israel should start pulling its 10,000 troops out of southern Lebanon before Lebanon deploys⁵ its army to the area.

Israel, supported by the United States, insists that its troops stay in Lebanon, until an international force, most likely led by France, is deployed⁶. 

Ghanaian Ambassador Nana Effah Apentang, this month's Security Council president, says Council members do not know the status of the negotiations, and have asked for a briefing from the two co-sponsors.

"Nobody knows. I do not want to indulge in any unnecessary speculation⁷. Right now, we all know that it is tough going. It is tough going in the negotiations. We know there may be one major sticking point, and I think that they are trying to resolve it," he said.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says the secretary-general has been on the telephone with officials of Israel and Lebanon and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, trying to push the process forward. 

"The secretary-general is working very intensely with Security Council members and key leaders, both here in New York and in capitals, to push for a resolution concerning the situation along the Blue Line," Dujarric said.  "He reiterates⁸ his call that the fighting must stop to save civilians⁹ on both sides from the nightmare they have endured for the past four weeks. The secretary-general believes that it ought to be possible for the Security Council to adopt a resolution by the end of the week."

Dujarric confirmed that Annan held an unscheduled meeting Thursday morning with U.S. Ambassador John Bolton.

1 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。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

4 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》

5 deploys   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的第三人称单数 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• It then deploys "decoy" programs designed to attract the virus. 然后，它释放“诱饵”去吸引病毒。
• But when that doesn't work, he deploys his secret defense mechanism. 但没有效果，它要施展绝密自卫武器了。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

8 reiterates   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The Chinese government reiterates that the question of Taiwan is China's internal affair. 中国政府重申，台湾问题是中国的内政。 来自汉英非文学 - 汉英文件
• Wang Jianzhou reiterates a fact and a viewpoint in Davos. 王建宙在达沃斯重申一个事实和一个观点。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。