2006年VOA标准英语-President Bush Stresses a Lasting Cease-Fire in

By Deborah Block
Washington, D.C.
01 August 2006
 
watch Middle East report

U.S. President George W. Bush is again calling for a sustainable ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants² in Lebanon.  This, after Israel carried out limited air strikes against suspected Hezbollah positions in Lebanon Monday. 

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President Bush delivers speech at U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Support Commandin Miami, Monday   
  
President George W. Bush continues to resist growing international calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants. Mr. Bush says he is looking to the United Nations to act to establish a sustainable peace.

"Lebanon's democratic government must be empowered to exercise sole authority over its territory.  A multinational³ force must be dispatched to Lebanon quickly so we can help speed the delivery of humanitarian⁴ aid to the Lebanese people.  Iran must end its financial support and supply of weapons to terrorist groups like Hezbollah.  Syria must end its support for terror and respect the sovereignty of Lebanon," said the president.

Israel said it was suspending air strikes for two days after a missile attack Sunday killed nearly 60 Lebanese civilians⁵ in the village of Qana.

But Israeli jets hit parts of Lebanon again Monday.  Israeli officials say the airstrikes supported ground troops battling Hezbollah guerillas.  They say air support was called in after an anti-tank missile wounded several Israeli soldiers.  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that airstrikes would be carried out against Hezbollah during the two-day suspension if necessary, and that there will be no cease-fire in the coming days.

 
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shakes hands with Israeli Defense⁶ Minister Amir Peretz in Jerusalem Monday, July 31, 2006 
  
After more than a week meeting with international leaders about the conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she believes a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah can be reached this week.

"I take with me an emerging consensus⁷ on what is necessary for both an urgent ceasefire and a lasting⁸ settlement,” said Ms. Rice before departing back to Washington. “I am convinced we can achieve both this week.  And I am convinced that only by achieving both will the Lebanese people finally be able to control their country and their future.  And the people of Israel finally be able to live free from the threat of attack from terrorist groups in Lebanon."

In the capital of Lebanon, Beirut, Hezbollah legislator Hassan Fadlallah says the militant¹ group's priority is stopping what he calls "Israeli aggression⁹."  "We can then discuss other political issues.  There are some Lebanese issues related to Lebanon's sovereignty that should be discussed among the Lebanese people.  Israel cannot dictate¹⁰ any condition.  Any Israeli political condition will be rejected, as well as any other American condition."

  
  
The fighting has raged since July 12th, when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers. The top United Nations humanitarian coordinator¹¹ in Lebanon says hundreds of people have died and more than 3,000 have been wounded. 

A spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner¹² for Refugees says thousands more are displaced.  "Here in Lebanon we think there is about 700 to 800 thousand people displaced.  Many of them moved to the north, said Astrid Van Genderen Stort.

Relief workers from the French humanitarian group Premier¹³ Urgence are rushing badly needed food and medicine to civilians in southern Lebanon, where supplies are dwindling¹⁴.  Francois du Patier said, "We are trying to do as much as we can for all the villages going south near the border, and trying to give some medical help." 

Workers from the international aid organization Mercy Corps¹⁵ also distributed rations¹⁶ to displaced Lebanese families.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

4 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

5 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。

6 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。

7 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？

8 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

9 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

10 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

11 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

12 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

13 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

14 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

15 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

16 rations   

定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量

参考例句：

• They are provisioned with seven days' rations. 他们得到了7天的给养。
• The soldiers complained that they were getting short rations. 士兵们抱怨他们得到的配给不够数。