2006年VOA标准英语-Somalia Peace Talks Stall Again

By Noel King
Khartoum
31 October 2006

Peace talks in Khartoum between Somalia's transitional government and Islamists who control much of the country have stalled for a second day. Islamists say they will not meet with the government delegation¹ unless Ethiopian troops pull out of Somalia.

Top leaders of Union of Islamic Courts, Sheikh Hussein Dahir Aweys, right, and Sheik Sharif Ahmed (file photo - Oct. 5, 2006)

Diplomats² say they are frustrated³ by the delay and hope the peace talks will begin soon.

Negotiations⁴ were set to start on Monday but the Somali government delegation did not arrive until late Monday evening.

The Union of Islamic Courts has refused to meet with the government delegation until Ethiopian troops withdraw from Somalia.

 

Ethiopia's presence in Somalia is a hotly contested issue. The Somali government has admitted that a few Ethiopian troops have been sent to the embattled nation, but denies that they are fighting alongside government forces.

 

On Tuesday, delegates from both sides remained at their hotel in the capital Khartoum, refusing to come to the bargaining table for a second day.

 

Islamists have also objected to Kenya as co-chair of the meetings, saying Kenya is not neutral and supports the presence of foreign troops in Somalia.

 

Kenya was set to co-chair with the Arab League, as part of its responsibilities as president of the Inter-governmental Authority on Development.

 

Rina Kristmoen, an observer from the Norwegian Embassy in Nairobi, told VOA that most diplomats were hoping the talks would begin soon.

 

"It's important that the parties meet, that they continue the dialogue and continue to try to find a solution and try to find peace in Somalia," said Kristmoen. "The deadlock⁵ is over protocol⁶ now. They are trying to decide who will chair the meeting. It's not a very big issue. It's a little bit unfortunate that it has taken so long to solve it."

 

Islamists now control much of southern Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu.

 

In response to the Islamist claim that Ethiopian troops are backing government forces, the transitional government has accused Eritrea of sending troops to bolster⁷ the Islamic Courts.

 

Observers fear the tension could ignite a proxy⁸ war between long-time rivals, Ethiopia and Eritrea, with Somalia as the battleground.

 

In two previous rounds of talks in Sudan the Somali government and Islamists have agreed to form a joint⁹ national army and police force. But observers say the agreements have had little effect.

 

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991 when warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

1 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

6 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

7 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

8 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

9 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。