VOA标准英语2010年-US Cautions Lebanon on Ahmadinejad Vis

The State Department acknowledges it is Lebanon's sovereign right to invite whatever foreign leader it chooses to visit the country. Nonetheless, the United States is questioning the wisdom of reported plans by Lebanese authorities to allow the Iranian leader to visit the tense border area. The Iranian-backed Shi'ite movement Hezbollah has said Mr. Ahmadinejad will visit its southern Lebanon stronghold, including a border point where pro-Hezbollah visitors throw stones toward the Israeli side.

At a news briefing, State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States hopes Iran will play a constructive¹ role in the region and that stone-throwing - either figurative or literal - is not constructive behavior.

Crowley said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raised the issue late last month in New York with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. Crowley said Clinton expressed concern about it, given that Iran - through its association with groups like Hezbollah - is "actively² undermining Lebanon's sovereignty."

"We respect the fact that countries can chose to have diplomatic relations with other countries. That is a sovereign choice for Lebanon and for Iran," said Crowley. "It's not for us to tell them who they should or should not talk to. We did say to Lebanese officials that this is a country that is actively undermining your government. And we believe that whatever you decide to do, should be in light of making sure that the Lebanese government continues to demand that Iran or any other country respect its sovereignty."

Although part of Lebanon's coalition³ government, Hezbollah has refused to yield its largely-Iranian supplied weaponry to the regular Lebanese armed forces. Hezbollah is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization.

Israel, which fought a border war with Hezbollah in 2006, also reportedly has urged Lebanese officials to cancel the border visit by Mr. Ahmadinejad, which it has described as a provocation⁴.

In Lebanon, members of the March 14 Alliance - the political bloc⁵ headed by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Harri - have criticized the planned Iranian visit as a bid to underline Iran's potential to disrupt Middle East peace efforts.

The visit has been defended by Hezbollah spokesmen and by Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki, who said his country supports Lebanon's government and stability.

1 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

2 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

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 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

5 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。