VOA标准英语2010年-Spain FM Calls for Direct Israel-Pales

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, right, and his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos give a press conference after their meeting in Jerusalem, 28 Jul 2010

Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has called for unconditional¹, direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Spanish official also reassured² Israel over EU sanctions imposed against Iran for its nuclear program.

 

Speaking after meeting with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem, Mr. Moratinos said both Israel and the Palestinians should enter direct, face-to-face talks without preconditions.

"Meeting together, the two leaders, the Palestinian Authority and Prime Minister Netanyahu, meeting together urgently, directly, without pre-conditions, I think is the best way to move forward," he said.   

The United States and the European Union have been pushing for a return to direct talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is willing to start direct negotiations³.  Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas has said he wants a complete freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank as a condition for direct talks.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said a temporary freeze on settlements - which is set to expire September 25 - is a separate issue from face-to-face talks. "It is two separate issues; we clarified our position from the beginning, that this moratorium⁴ is only for 10 months and direct talks is a very important issue for both sides, not only for Israel.  And we think that we must start immediately with direct talks. And I want to clarify again that there is no place for any moratorium after 25 September," he said.

The Spanish Foreign Minister later traveled to the West Bank city of Ramallah for meetings with the Palestinian leadership. His statements came one day before Arab foreign ministers are set to meet in Cairo to decide whether to endorse⁵ face-to-face negotiations.  In recent weeks, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell has been mediating⁶ indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mr. Moratinos also reassured Israel about EU sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program.  The Spanish Foreign Minister said that recent sanctions on Iran's energy, foreign trade and banking⁷ sectors⁹ sent a clear message to the Tehran government.

"It is a double track approach, of course, to have a very clear position on sanctions, not only on [the United Nations] Security Council, but specific new measures from the European Union on the financial side - on the oil and gas sector⁸, in all elements that can give to Iran a very clear message that they have to move and respond to the requirements of the international community," he said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the EU sanctions, but said they would have no effect on Iran.  Mr. Ahmadinejad later added that his country is willing to resume nuclear talks with the West next month if world powers are allowed to express their view on Israel's alleged¹⁰ nuclear arsenal¹¹.

The Iranian president also said Turkey and Brazil must be included in the discussions.  Earlier this year, those two countries tried to negotiate a nuclear fuel swap¹² deal with Iran.

Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful uses only.  The United States and its allies say Tehran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons.

 

1 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

2 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 moratorium   

n.(行动、活动的)暂停(期)，延期偿付

参考例句：

• The government has called for a moratorium on weapons testing.政府已要求暂停武器试验。
• We recommended a moratorium on two particular kinds of experiments.我们建议暂禁两种特殊的实验。

5 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。

6 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。

7 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

11 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

12 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。