2007年VOA标准英语-Selection of Tony Blair as Mideast Envoy Draws

By Sonja Pace
London
28 June 2007

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he will likely head to the Middle East next month in his role as newly appointed international peace envoy¹.  VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London that Mr. Blair's appointment has drawn² very mixed reactions.

Just a day after he stepped down as prime minister, Tony Blair is making plans to travel to the Middle East in his new job as representative of the so-called Quartet group, made up of the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and Russia.  His overall job will be to prepare the ground for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr. Blair has described the job as a "huge challenge."  In his last appearance in the House of Commons Wednesday, Mr. Blair spoke³ about what needs to happen in the region.

Tony Blair leaves his official residence in central London, 27 Jun 2007

"The absolute priority is to give effect to what is now the consensus⁴ across the international community that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution, which means a state of Israel that is secure and confident in its security and a Palestinian state not merely viable⁵ in terms of territory, but in terms of its institutions and governance," he said.  "I believe it is possible to do that, but it will require a huge intensity⁶ of focus and work."

Mr. Blair's appointment as envoy has received mixed reviews.  There has been a hearty⁷ welcome from Washington and approving nods from Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the appointment as did Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.  But, the militant⁸ group Hamas, which has taken control of the Gaza Strip, rejected Mr. Blair as an honest broker⁹, saying he is too close to U.S. President George Bush.

Mr. Blair's closeness to the White House and his steadfast¹⁰ support for the war in Iraq have made him a target for harsh criticism throughout the region and many doubt his ability to act independently.

A Blair biographer, Professor Anthony Seldon of London's Wellington College, believes Mr. Blair's impact will be minimal¹¹.

"He's obviously very interested in trying to bring about a peace between Israel and Palestine, but the reality is that he could not do it when he was the second most powerful man in the world and I do not think he will be able to achieve very much at all when he is just an ordinary person," he noted¹².

Professor Seldon believes that what is needed to restart any real peace process will be sufficient political will in Washington.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

5 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

6 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

7 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

8 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

9 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

10 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

11 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

12 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。