VOA慢速英语2016 叙利亚暴力冲突升级 美欲重启和平谈判

AS IT IS 2016-05-03 As Violence Increases in Syria, US Seeks to Restart Peace Talks 叙利亚暴力冲突升级 美欲重启和平谈判

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wants Russia’s help to stop the violence in Syria.

美国国务卿约翰·克里希望俄罗斯能协力阻止叙利亚的暴力冲突。

Government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have attacked the rebel-held city of Aleppo for more than a week. Over 250 people have been killed.

效忠叙利亚总统阿塞德(Basharal-Assad)的政府武装已经向叛军控制的阿勒颇(Aleppo)开火长达一周。已致250多人死亡。

At a meeting in Geneva with other diplomats¹, Kerry said he is, in his words, “getting closer to a place of understanding” on restarting a cease-fire in Syria that includes the city of Aleppo.

克里在日内瓦召开的多国外长会议上表示，在包括阿勒颇在内的叙利亚城市重启停火协议方面“需尽可能达成共识”。

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not attend the meeting. But Kerry said, “We are talking directly to the Russians, even now.” He wanted Russia to use its influence over the Syrian government to stop the violence.

俄罗斯外长拉夫罗夫没有出席会议。但克里表示，“即便如此，我们也在同俄罗斯直接对话。”他希望俄罗斯能说服叙利亚政府停战。

Earlier, the U.S. secretary of state urged Russia to help restore calm during a visit to Jordan.

早些时候，美国国务卿在访问约旦时曾要求俄罗斯协助重启和平谈判。

“These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation, and we obviously look for the [Syrian] regime to listen to Russia.”

“这是十分关键的时期，我们希望俄罗斯能与我们合作，并希望叙利亚当局可以听从俄罗斯的建议。”

The Syrian military said last week that it would impose a temporary “regime of calm” in the areas around the capital, Damascus, and in Latakia province. However, Aleppo is not among these areas.

上周，叙利亚军方称，在叙利亚首都大马士革附近和拉塔基亚省(Latakia)达成停战协议，实则是其暂时和平阴谋。然而，阿勒颇并不在停战协议之列。

Kerry has said ending the violence in Aleppo is of top importance. Most of the victims are civilians². Hospitals and medical centers also have been targets of the fighting. A deadly bombing of a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders last week caused an international outcry, but the air strikes have continued.

克里表示结束阿勒颇的暴力冲突至关重要。多数遇难者为平民。医院和医护中心也是反对派攻击的目标。上周，无国界医生组织支持的医院遭遇爆炸袭击后引发了国际声讨，但空袭仍在继续。

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was among those Kerry spoke³ with on Monday. He condemned⁴ the airstrike on the hospital and called on Syrian president Assad to step down.

苏丹外长阿德尔·朱拜尔也参加了周一克里发言的会议。他对空袭医院的行为表示谴责并要求叙利亚总统阿萨德下台。

On Sunday, Pope Francis also urged parties in the conflict to return to peace talks.

周日，教皇方济各也呼吁冲突双方重归和平谈判。

Words in This Story

critical –adj. extremely important

regime –n. a form of government

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 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。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。