2006年VOA标准英语-Blair Predicts UN Resolution on Lebanon Within

By Tom Rivers
London
03 August 2006

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has signaled that a U.N. ceasefire resolution on Lebanon could soon be agreed upon.  The British leader spoke¹ at his monthly news conference in London. 

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Tony Blair speaks at monthly news conference at Downing Street, London, Aug. 3, 2006  
  
In his clearest indication to date, Tony Blair says he believes a U.N. cease-fire resolution can be agreed to in the next couple of days.

Speaking to reporters in London, the British leader says progress is being made and language acceptable to all is being refined.

"This is obviously a very critical time," he said.  "I think it is, as I say, coming together now.  I think the remaining differences are very slight over the resolution that can be put down.  And what we need is to get a cease-fire happening once the resolution immediately on the agreement of the resolution and then with that suspension of hostilities³, then get to the point where we can put in place the longer-term framework with the international force in support of the Lebanese government so that the underlying⁴ problems can be tackled and dealt with."

Mr. Blair has been widely criticized in Britain for not calling for an immediate² cease-fire.  He denied that his stance amounted to giving a green light to Israel's military offensive.

"It is not that I am indifferent to the suffering people in Lebanon.  On the contrary, I stand in complete solidarity⁵ and sympathy with people in Lebanon, innocent people who have died in Israel as well in what is a terrible, terrible situation," he added.  "But my job is to try to bring it to an end.  And you do not bring it to an end unless you have got a plan to do so.  Now I hope, as I say, I hope within the next few days we will get a United Nations resolution that gets the cease-fire we all want to see."

The prime minister urged both Iran and Syria to help resolve the crisis.

He also stressed that once a solution to Lebanon is put in place, then it is vitally important to quickly get the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians started again, and supported.

"Unless we can translate the words that we have used into action, this issue remains⁶ as a deep source of division," he explained.  "But one other point I would like to make to you is, we cannot do this unless we have the support of the Arab world too.  And that means people committing themselves in a very clear, obvious way to the two-state solution, but that does not just mean a viable⁷ Palestinian state, it also means a secure Israeli state." 

Mr. Blair also denied press reports that his stand on Lebanon was at odds⁸ with views held in Britain's Foreign Office.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 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。

3 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。

4 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

5 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

8 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？