VOA常速英语2008年-US, European Union, Send Envoys to Armenia

By David Gollust
State Department
03 March 2008

The United States and European Union have dispatched envoys¹ to Armenia to try to help defuse the political crisis underway since disputed elections February 19. The Bush administration says both sides in the political conflict are responsible for restoring order after lethal² weekend rioting. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

The parallel action by the United States and European Union reflects deep concern about the political stability of Armenia, where clashes between security forces and election protesters Saturday killed eight people and left more than 130 others wounded.

The State Department says Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Matthew Bryza is enroute to the Armenian capital to join European Union diplomat³ Peter Semneby in an effort to restore political peace in Yerevan.

Armenia has been in political turmoil⁴ since the February 19 parliamentary election, which opposition⁵ leaders allege⁶ was rigged to favor incumbent⁷ Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan.

Neither side in the dispute has shown willingness to back down, with opposition leader and former president Levon Ter-Petrosian vowing⁸ continued protests and Mr. Sarkisyan promising⁹ to punish trouble-makers.

State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey says the Armenian parties have indicated they are ready to work with the envoys, whose aim will be to facilitate dialogue:

"Both sides have said they're willing to engage in a dialogue," he said. "Matt's [Bryza] purpose as well as the purpose of the European Union's representative is to try and see, through talking individually with both sides, if we can help stimulate¹⁰ that dialogue and move it forward. But I would not expect you to see Matt formally negotiating or offering proposals. This is really a facilitative role."

Casey said the United States supports neither a crackdown on protesters nor a resort to violence by demonstrators.

In a written statement late Saturday, the State Department expressed regret over the violence, appealed for restraint, and said both sides are responsible for helping¹¹ re-establish order and political dialogue.

It urged the prompt lifting of the state of emergency declared by Prime Minister Sarkisyan and said Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Daniel Fried had made the same point in a telephone conversation with the senior Armenian official.

1 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

2 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

3 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

4 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

5 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。

6 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

7 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

8 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

9 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

10 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。