VOA标准英语2009年-Middle East Envoy, Mubarak Push for Gaza Cease-

Middle East envoy¹ Tony Blair is saying that the "elements are in place" for a ceasefire in Gaza, after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Egyptian diplomatic efforts to mediate² a cease-fire, meanwhile, have hit a number of snags.
　

Tony Blair, left, talks to Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, after meeting with President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, 12 Jan 2009

Diplomatic efforts to put an end to the conflict in Gaza continue in the Egyptian capital Cairo, as special Middle East envoy Tony Blair paid an unexpected visit to discuss the Egyptian peace plan with President Hosni Mubarak.

Blair was upbeat and optimistic after discussing the latest developments with President Mubarak and relaying messages from Israeli leaders from his visit to Israel, Sunday.

All the "necessary elements" for a cease-fire, he insisted, are "in place".

"I think the elements of an agreement for the immediate³ cease fire are there," Blair said. "I think they are now being worked on very hard in great detail. This is a sensitive and delicate time in that negotiation⁴, but I hope they will bear fruit and I hope so soon, because obviously the sooner this comes to an end, the better for everybody. So we will continue to work very hard in this. I have had a whole series of discussions with the various players in this over the past few days."

Blair says 'credible⁵ cease-fire' consists of 2 key elements

Blair also stressed the two key elements of what he called a "credible cease-fire"; the Israeli demand that the flow of weapons into Gaza be stopped, and the Palestinian demand that border crossings be reopened.

"I am hopeful we can put an agreement together but it is going to have to be worked on very hard and it has got to be credible. Credible both in terms of stopping the supply of weapons into Gaza, but credible also in terms of opening up Gaza and allowing the Gazan people to get what they need from the outside world."

Diplomatic negotiations⁶ have been grueling, with Hamas leaders issuing statements from Damascus, while Israeli leaders have apparently⁷ been balking⁸ at demands for a quick withdrawal⁹ from Gaza before the flow of weapons is stopped.

Al Jazeera TV reports that Hamas delegates finished a six-hour meeting with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman, Sunday, before returning to confer with their political leaders in Gaza and Damascus.

A visit to Cairo by Deputy Israeli Defense¹⁰ Minister Amos Gilad was postponed¹¹ without explanation, and a long-rumored visit by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to discuss developments with President Mubarak also has not materialized.

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 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

5 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

6 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。

7 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

8 balking   

n.慢行，阻行v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的现在分词 )；（指马）不肯跑

参考例句：

• He picked up a stone and let fly at the balking dog. 他捡起一块石头朝那狂吠的狗扔去。 来自互联网
• Democrats won't pass the plan without votes from rank-and-file Republicans andof-and-file Republicans were reportedly balking. 没有普通共和党议员的支持，民主党人无法通过这项方案——到周四晚间，据悉那些普通共和党人在阻挡（该计划）。 来自互联网

9 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 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。