VOA常速英语2007年-Lebanon's Presidential Election Postponed for N

By Edward Yeranian
Beirut
17 December 2007

Lebanon's presidential election has been postponed¹ a ninth time, as top political leaders again failed to reach a political deal that the Hezbollah-led opposition² is demanding before a vote can take place. The opposition and the pro-Western ruling coalition³ have agreed on the candidate, but a constitutional amendment⁴ must pass first, as Edward Yeranian reports from Beirut.

Lebanon's top political leaders have hit another stumbling block, forcing the postponement⁵ of the presidential vote in parliament, scheduled for Monday, until December 22. It was the ninth such postponement in two months.

Parliament speaker Nabih Berri made the decision to call off the election after it became clear that demands by the Hezbollah-led opposition for a package deal, including top government posts and senior political nominations⁶, would not be agreed upon by the ruling March 14 alliance.

Parliament member Antoine Zahra, representing the March 14 alliance, complained that Syria and its allies have decided⁷ once again to keep the Lebanese presidency⁸ vacant.

Lebanon's constitution must be amended⁹ before a vote to elect Army Commander General Michel Suleiman to be president. Both sides have agreed to nominate Suleiman, but a clause in Lebanon's constitution forbidding senior political appointees from running must be modified.

A top Hezbollah member of parliament, Hussein Hajj Hassan, insisted that neither side has agreed to a compromise over amending¹⁰ the constitution, adding that a package deal, including all opposition demands is needed for the amendment to pass.

He says without such an agreement, the ruling alliance will not feel obliged to respect a power-sharing agreement after a new president is elected.

 

He says the March 14 alliance is trying to renege on a pledge for a national unity¹¹ government.

Beirut's al Akhbar newspaper, which is close to Hezbollah, wrote the new tensions have arisen between Saudi Arabia and Syria, forcing the election to be postponed.

Members of the ruling majority have repeatedly accused Syria of torpedoing¹² the election.

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh, representing the March 14 majority, said Syria is trying to impose its views.

Hamadeh says Syria is trying to impose new conditions or force them through using France or Turkey or other countries, which means Syria intends to decide on the next Lebanese government, returning us to the era of Syrian occupation.

General Michel Aoun, a top member of the pro-Syrian opposition, said last week that he would be the opposition's leading negotiator, rather than Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, throwing the negotiating process into further confusion.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch visited Lebanon during the weekend, meeting top political leaders and urging them to fulfill¹³ their duty and elect a president.

1 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

6 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

9 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

10 amending   

改良，修改，修订( amend的现在分词 )； 改良，修改，修订( amend的第三人称单数 )( amends的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Amending acts in 1933,1934, and 1935 attempted to help honest debtors rehabilitate themselves. 一九三三年，一九三四年和一九三五年通过的修正案是为了帮助诚实的债务人恢复自己的地位。
• Two ways were used about the error-amending of contour curve. 采用两种方法对凸轮轮廓曲线进行了修正。

11 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。

12 torpedoing   

用爆破筒爆破

参考例句：

• We all accused the union of torpedoing the negotiation. 我们都谴责工会破坏谈判。

13 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。