VOA标准英语2009-US Mideast Peace Envoy Visits Egypt, Jordan

US envoy¹ to the Middle East George Mitchell met with top Egyptian officials, Thursday, to discuss prospects² for resuming Arab-Israeli peace talks. Mitchell conferred with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, as well as Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, before heading off to Jordan.
　
Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League, left, meets with U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell in Cairo, Egypt, 11 June 2009

US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell continued his shuttle-diplomacy, Thursday, meeting with top Egyptian officials in Cairo.

The former senator emphasized that the Obama administration was toiling³ to bring about a rapid resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that would lead to a two-state solution for both sides.

Mitchell, at a joint⁴ press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said that the U.S. supports the two-state solution, alongside a complete normalization⁵ between Arab states and Israel.

"The president and the secretary of state have made American policy clear," Mitchell said. "We are working hard to achieve our objective of comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel, and also including peace between Israel and its other immediate⁶ neighbors and full normalization of relations between Israel and all of the Arab nations as contemplated⁷ by the Arab peace initiative, which as the president has said, is an important proposal that we are seeking to integrate, fully⁸, into our efforts."

Egypt has been pushing for a two-state solution to solve the decades-long Arab-Israeli conflict and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told Egyptian TV, Wednesday, that Israel "will agree to a two-state solution because it has no other choice."

Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit noted⁹, after meeting with Mitchell, said that the U.S. is now committed to that two-state solution, as well as a halt to Israeli settlement activity.

The Egyptian foreign minister said Mitchell told him the American side was committed to the two state solution and the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state.

An Arab peace plan, proposed by Saudi Arabia during a 2002 summit in Beirut, stresses the need for an independent Palestinian state, in addition to a halt to Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has, until now, refused to endorse¹⁰ a two-state solution, despite a recent visit to the White House.

Senator Mitchell also met with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, who has repeated, in recent months, that Israel must accept the Arab peace proposal, soon, "since it will not be on the table forever." Moussa said that the choice for peace was up to Israel.

"The question of settlements is a sine qua non, the question of two states is basic," Moussa said. "The question of a peace process, a comprehensive peace process, is the goal. If one of the parties does not want to cooperate at all, than we will have to have a firm stand vis-a-vis such an attitude. On the contrary, if there is a movement, an acceptance, understanding that there must be steps, significant steps forward, then all parties will have to do the same. And we, as you know, the Arab side, has put his offer of peace on the table."

U.S. President Barack Obama emphasized his commitment to resuming stalled Middle East peace talks during an address to the Arab world in Cairo, on June 4.

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 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

3 toiling   

长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉

参考例句：

• The fiery orator contrasted the idle rich with the toiling working classes. 这位激昂的演说家把无所事事的富人同终日辛劳的工人阶级进行了对比。
• She felt like a beetle toiling in the dust. She was filled with repulsion. 她觉得自己像只甲虫在地里挣扎，心中涌满愤恨。

4 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。

5 normalization   

n.（normalisation）正常化，标准化

参考例句：

• The visit signalled the normalization of relations between the two countries.这次访问显示两国关系已经正常化。
• He was pleased to the normalization of relationship between the police and the people.他很高兴警方和人民之间关系的正常化。

6 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。

7 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。