VOA常速英语2013--正式的中东和平谈判开始于八月中

 

Formal Mideast Peace Negotiations² to Begin by Mid-August 正式的中东和平谈判开始于八月中

STATE DEPARTMENT — Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held a second and final day of preliminary, face-to-face talks in Washington Tuesday. The talks included a meeting with President Obama at the White House. 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, said the goal is to reach a final status agreement during the next nine months.    

"We all understand the goal that we're working toward: two states living side by side in peace and security," he said. "Two states because two proud peoples each deserve a country to call their own."

Kerry said all final status issues are up for negotiation¹, which would include security, borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem. The parties have agreed to what Kerry called "sustained, continuous, and substantive³ negotiations" on the issues, and will meet within the next two weeks in Israel or the Palestinian Territories.  

Talks fell apart three years ago over Israeli settlement building.   

Palestinian negotiator Erekat said Palestinians have the most to gain from an agreement.

"I am delighted that all final status issues are on the table and will be resolved without any exceptions, and it's time for the Palestinian people to have an independent, sovereign state of their own," he said.

Israel's security is critical, said Justice Minister Livni.

"We came here today from a troubled and changing region," she said. "We are hopeful, but we cannot be naive⁴.  We cannot afford it in our region."

The U.S. stands to gain if it can help increase stability in the Middle East, says Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen of the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington.

"You look around at the region, which is in turmoil⁵, and there is a lot of uncertainty," she said. "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one area ironically - because people have always seen it as the ultimate intractable conflict - but this is one area where the U.S. still does have influence with both of the parties."

Obama traveled to Israel in March, a trip that is credited with helping⁶ to renew direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. 

1 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

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 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

4 naive   

adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的

参考例句：

• It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致，你未免太单纯了。
• Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。

5 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。