2007年VOA标准英语-Sudan Ready for Truce with Darfur Rebels

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
14 September 2007

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir said Friday his government is ready to announce a cease-fire with rebel forces. During a visit to Rome, al-Bashir said the truce¹ will coincide with the start of peace talks over the conflict in Darfur. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

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Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi (r) and Sudan President Omar al-Bashir give a joint press conference at Chigi Palace in Rome, 14 Sep 2007

The President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, is on a three-day visit to Italy with a large delegation³, holding meetings with top Italian leaders and Pope Benedict XVI. He arrived Thursday afternoon, and his first official meeting was with the Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

Following early morning talks Friday with Mr. Prodi, the two leaders held a joint press conference. Mr. al-Bashir announced his government is ready for a truce with Darfur rebels to coincide with the start of peace talks over the conflict. Talks are scheduled to begin October 27 in Libya.

The Sudanese president also said that he asked Mr. Prodi to push European countries to pressure rebel leaders to take part in the Libyan talks. He also said that he hopes the negotiations⁴ in Tripoli will bring peace.

The Italian prime minister praised Mr. Bashir's offer of a cease-fire, saying it is a strong signal.

Following his talks with Mr. Prodi, the Sudanese president traveled to the Pope's summer residence in Castelgandolfo, south of Rome, where he held 25 minutes of talks with Pope Benedict.

A statement by the Vatican said the pope and Mr. Bashir discussed the political and religious situation in Darfur and the possibility of a peace agreement.

The statement added that the Vatican expressed the hope that the peace talks in Libya will help put an end to the suffering of the people of Darfur and that development projects in the country will be launched.

1 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。

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 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

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。