UN Chief and Israeli President Commit to Peace Efforts

　　UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, issuing another call for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

 

　　The top UN official says direct negotiations¹ remain the single most creditable path towards a solution.

 

　　Ban Ki-moon is calling both sides to avoid any action that would risk undermining the negotiations.

 

　　"Both sides need to sustain an environment conducive² for the peace process to move forward. People need to see improvements on the ground, including economic progress for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and ...security for Israelis and Palestinians."

 

　　The Israeli and Palestinian sides restarted direct negotiations in total secrecy³ Wednesday in Jerusalem.

 

　　Peres says the fact no information from the meeting has been leaked is good news.

 

　　"The first meeting between the two parties apparently⁴ was not too bad. And I do believe that all organization, all of us, should give priorities to this peace. And I do hope that it will be continued. There are difficulties, but to make the future a hopeless future is mistaken, because peace is a real need for both parties. None of us has an alternative."

 

　　Peres is calling on the international community to give both sides 9-months to have quiet negotiations.

 

　　Ban Ki-moon has also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

 

　　Prior to the talks, a first batch⁵ of 26 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel as a goodwill⁶ gesture.

 

　　However, the recent announcement of more settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has overshadowed peace talks.

 

　　Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

　　"Palestinians have shown goodwill to reach peace. I hope Israel can also show their goodwill to stop settlement building and release all the Palestinian prisoners."

 

　　Ban Ki-moon says he hopes the peace process would advance smoothly⁷.

 

　　He says the United Nations will spare no effort to try to help contribute to the peace process.

1 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。

2 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

3 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

6 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

7 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。