2006年VOA标准英语-EU Approves Humanitarian Aid for Palestinians

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
16 June 2006
 

French President Jacques Chirac, second right, gestures while speaking with Austrian Chancellor¹ Wolfgang Schuessel, second left, during a group photo  
  
The European Union approved new humanitarian² aid to the Palestinians Friday, as leaders of the 25-member block ended a two-day summit in Brussels. The meeting also tackled issues like the stalled European constitution and expansion.

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The European Union's new emergency aid package for the Palestinians amounts to about $126 million. An EU spokeswoman told reporters in Brussels it will be paid through a new funding mechanism³ that starts operating next month, and will bypass the Hamas government.

Both the EU and the United States suspended aid to the Palestinian territories, through normal mechanisms⁴, as long as Hamas refuses to renounce⁵ terrorism, embrace the peace process and recognize the state of Israel. Israel also suspended customs and tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority. Many Palestinians - along with their government - are now having a hard time making ends meet.

Earlier this week, Israel's new prime minister, Ehud Olmert, toured Europe to drum up support for Israel's planned withdrawal⁶ from much of the West Bank. But the idea got a cool reception.

During a news conference in Brussels Friday, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik of Austria, which holds the rotating EU presidency⁷, called instead for dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians.

"We have always expressed our reserves about unilateral measures that might endanger such a negotiated solution. And this is the line of the European Union. There is no intention to change it," she said.

European leaders also delayed plans to revive the European constitution, which was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands last year. But they remained optimistic on another issue - admitting new members in the future. Still, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters that Turkey's potential membership was particularly problematic.

Jose Manuel Durao Barroso (file photo)  
  
"It would be completely wrong to contend that this is not a huge challenge. But I said it in a positive way. Because, if you want to succeed, you have to make an effort - on the European side, but also on the Turkish side," he said.

European leaders expressed concern about reported remarks by Turkish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan. On Friday, Mr. Erdogan apparently⁸ rejected opening Ankara's ports to shipping⁹ from the divided island of Cyprus, if there were no concessions¹⁰ for Turkish Cypriots. The EU has made trade with Cyprus and other members a precondition for possible membership.

Another summit takes place in Austria next week between the EU and President Bush. European officials say they will raise their concerns about the Guantanamo prison camp during those talks

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

4 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

6 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。

7 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

8 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。

9 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

10 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。