VOA标准英语2008年-Cyprus' Rival Leaders Agree to Start Historic R

Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot leaders meeting in Nicosia have agreed to resume reunification talks in September to try and end the 34-year division of the Mediterranean¹ island. The U.N. Chief of Mission in Cyprus, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, made the announcement that a breakthrough had been made after hosting a meeting between the Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. For VOA, Nathan Morley reports from Nicosia.

This was the two leaders' fourth meeting, during which they undertook a final review of technical committees and working groups, which will lay the groundwork for negotiations².

Once the upcoming negotiations are complete, Turkish and Greek Cypriots will hold separate votes on the final settlement.

U.N. spokesman Jose Diaz told VOA that Friday's events are a very positive sign for the future of Cyprus.

"Well I think today's meeting went quite smoothly³, we had a very good statement coming out of the meeting, in addition to the agreement to start negotiations on the 3rd September, they also announced a series of measures that are aimed at making life easier for people on both sides of the divide," he said.

Considering that almost all contact between the two communities ended in 2004, events since the election of Demitris Christofias in February this year have moved at a fast pace.

The chemistry between Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat is said to be "good" and the two men are seen by many in the international community as the only hope for finding a peace settlement in the Cyprus dispute, which has been ongoing⁴ since 1974.

"They have a very good relationship, which is obvious when you see them interacting and discussing, so I think that's a very important part of the progress that has been made so far and hopefully will continue to be made," said U.N. spokesman Jose Diaz.

To add some impetus⁵ to the process, the former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer recently accepted the post as the U.N. special envoy⁶ in Cyprus and will arrive on the island next week.

With his background in complex negotiations he could hold the key to future success in Cyprus.

Cyprus split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after an Athens-backed coup⁷.

The breakaway Turkish Cypriot north is only recognized by Turkey. Reunification talks have been deadlocked⁸ since 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. reunification plan in a referendum. Turkish Cypriots accepted it.

 

 

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 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。

3 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 impetus   

n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力

参考例句：

• This is the primary impetus behind the economic recovery.这是促使经济复苏的主要动力。
• Her speech gave an impetus to my ideas.她的讲话激发了我的思绪。

6 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

7 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

8 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。