叙利亚人寄希望于日内瓦会议结束痛苦

 　　DAMASCUS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite dwindling¹ chances of success, the forthcoming Geneva conference remain crucial for the Syrians as most of them pin hopes on the peace talks for a beginning of an end to their suffering.

　　Media reports said the conference is initially² set for July 8, noting, however, the date will be finalized³ on June 25 during a tripartite meeting of the UN, Russia and the United States in Geneva.

　　The conference is expected to bring together the Syrian government and opposition⁴ in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the 27-month-long crisis and delineate its first step, which probably includes forming a transitional government.

　　Syrians are cautiously optimistic about the conference, hoping it would bring an end to their suffering and set their life back to normal.

　　Samira, a mother of two kids, went through immense ordeal⁵ in the past two years as her husband and children survived several bombings that killed tens of Syrians and maimed scores others.

　　She had been doing her best to help her kids in their school work because she did not want them to suffer academic loss as many Syrian children had done.

　　"I used to be in a state of anxiety from the moment they leave home till they come back, looking out of the window and praying for them all the time," she said. "It was a terrible feeling."

　　She said two bombs had gone off near her husband's shop and another near her kids' school. "I cannot take experiences like this any more; I will leave Syria if the conflict goes on (after the peace conference)," she said.

　　Samira's concerns are shared by many other Syrian families, who have the same worries about their children's future and safety, especially after violence reached the capital Damascus, which used remained relatively⁶ calm despite a handful of explosions.

　　"I am awaiting the outcome of the conference and will decide what to do after that," said Kenaz Hafar, a secretary at a private company and a mother of three children, fearing the country will slide into even worse chaos⁷ if the conference fails.

　　Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with his British counterpart William Hague Wednesday in Washington on Syria when efforts are being exerted to organize the Geneva conference,

　　While the Syrian government has confirmed its attendance, skepticisms are running high about whether the peace talks can ever take place, as the opposition is still unable to close ranks on its participation⁸.

　　Hague said since the Syrian troops had made progress in the battlefield, the Syrian government is likely to stack up its leverage⁹ in negotiating any deal with the opposition, and that consequently it will be very difficult to organize the conference, let alone making it a success

　　"The regime will likely be less willing to make enough concessions¹⁰ during these negotiations¹¹, and persuading the opposition to participate in the negotiations has become more difficult," Hague said.

　　Haitham al-Maleh, a Syrian opposition figure, casts doubts on the convening¹² of the conference. "Those who call for the conference are divided more than the Syrian opposition itself, which they have said is not ready for reaching a settlement to the conflict."

1 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

2 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

3 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

8 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

9 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

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。

11 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。

12 convening   

召开( convene的现在分词 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. 民10:7但招聚会众的时候、们要吹号、不要吹出大声。
• We warmly welcome the convening of Asia-Europe meeting in London. 热烈欢迎亚欧会议在伦敦召开。