2006年VOA标准英语-Diplomacy Efforts in Middle East Take on Greate

By Jim Bertel
Washington, D.C.
31 July 2006
 
watch Diplomacy¹ report

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on her way home to Washington today Monday optimistic that a "comprehensive settlement" to the Middle East crisis can be reached in the coming days. VOA's Jim Bertel reports Rice's announcement follows a deadly Israeli attack Sunday that killed nearly 60 Lebanese civilians².

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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shakes hands with Israeli Defense³ Minister Amir Peretz in Jerusalem Monday, July 31, 2006   
  
Three weeks after the current conflict in the Middle East began, the diplomatic focus shifts to the United Nations Security Council amid signs a diplomatic solution could be near. Speaking in Jerusalem on Monday, Secretary Rice says she plans to present a three-part plan to the world body.

"A ceasefire, the political principles that provide for a long-term settlement, and the authorization⁴ of an international force to support the Lebanese army in keeping the peace," she outlined.

Rice says there is an emerging consensus⁵ on the conditions needed for a ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Earlier Monday, Israel began a 48-hour pause in its aerial bombing campaign in Lebanon following an attack Sunday on the Lebanese village of Qana that killed nearly 60 Lebanese civilians, many women and children.  The bombing prompted worldwide condemnation⁶ of Israel's offensive, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for an immediate⁷ end to the fighting.

"We have to speed this entire process up, get a resolution now and on the passing of an agreement on the resolution the hostilities⁸ have got to stop, and stop on all sides," said the prime minister.

 
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan addresses the media during an emergency session of the Security Council
  
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan shares that sense of urgency, fearing a failure to do so could lead to a wider conflict. "They are all really concerned about what is going on and are aware if we don't handle it well, it could lead to further escalation⁹ and spread, and it could spread."

Yet even as diplomatic efforts intensify¹⁰, Israel's Defense Minister announced Monday his country's plan to expand ground operations against Hezbollah guerrillas, diminishing hopes that the 48-hour halt in air strikes could lead to a more comprehensive cease-fire. 

1 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

5 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

6 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

7 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。

8 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

9 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

10 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。