Arab League to Discuss Social, Economic Reforms during Tunis

 

Greg LaMotte

Arab League officials are promising¹ that this year's summit, beginning Saturday in Tunis, will address issues never before discussed during Arab League summits: social and economic reform.

Senior Arab League officials acknowledge that the organization has not been the powerful voice of Arab solidarity² the founders³ had expected.

The League was formed in 1945 to help build Arab unity⁴, but it has rarely been united and in recent years, its agenda focused almost exclusively on Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Senior Arab League officials say the weekend summit will mark a turning point for the organization. Internal reforms of the organization, spokesman Hossam Zaki said, are among the key points on the agenda.

 “The establishment of an Arab parliament. The establishment of a security mechanism⁵. The establishment of a conflict prevention mechanism. The establishment of an Arab investment bank. The establishment of a higher council for culture. Things of this sort,” he said. “And, we have to reform our voting system. We have to come up with a mechanism for the implementation⁶ of resolutions in the League, because there is no current mechanism. So, many, many issues.”

Mr. Zaki said that the purpose of the reforms is largely aimed at giving the League power it has never had, the power to enforce many of its own resolutions.

In addition, the League is expected to pass what it calls landmark⁷ resolutions dealing⁸ with social and economic reforms throughout the Arab world, including human rights that meet international standards and social and political empowerment for women.

It is also expected to produce the familiar Arab league condemnation⁹ of the Israeli government, which it blames for the recent escalation¹⁰ of hostilities¹¹ in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The League will also call for a speedy end to the occupation of Iraq and the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people.

The officials say the aim of the reforms is to make the League an effective instrument of progress for the Arab world. The reforms, they say, will be the first step towards that goal.
注释：
acknowledge [Ek5nClidV] vt. 承认
solidarity [7sCli5dAriti] n. 团结
exclusively [Ik5sklu:sIvlI] adv. 专门地，唯一地
mechanism [5mekEnizEm] n. 机构
come up with 制定，提出
enforce [in5fC:s] vt. 执行，实施
landmark [5lAndmB:k] n. 划时代的事件
empowerment [im5pauE] v. 授权
escalation [7eskE5leiFEn] n. 扩大，增加
hostility¹² [hCs5tiliti] n. 敌对
speedy [5spi:di] adj. 快的，迅速的

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 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。

3 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

6 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

9 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

10 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

11 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。

12 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。