2006年VOA标准英语-AU Proposes Draft Darfur Deal

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
26 April 2006

Majzoub Al-Khalifa, head of the Sudanese government's delegation  (center)   
  

Warring parties from Western Sudan's devastated¹ Darfur region and government representatives meeting at the Abuja peace talks are studying a new proposal to end three years of violence.  The proposal comes ahead of the April 30 deadline to reach an agreement.

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The draft peace agreement drawn² up by the African Union provides the framework for a comprehensive deal on all outstanding issues such as power and wealth sharing, as well as security arrangements.
 
African Union mediation³ chief, Salim Ahmed Salim, who handed over the document to delegates late Tuesday at the AU sponsored talks in Abuja, described the draft agreement as an acceptable compromise.

"It will be painfully clear to you that neither of you will be fully⁴ satisfied with our proposal," he said.  "Indeed if you will be, we shall possibly consider this as a dereliction of our responsibilities.  No agreement, however cleverly crafted, can fully address the demands of the two opposing parties.  In my view, I am submitting to you an agreement that does not fully give you what you had wanted but an agreement that you can all live with."

Both the Sudan government and the two rebel groups operating in Darfur have come under pressure in the past few days to reach a deal to end the war.
 
About 300,000 people have died from violence and diseases in Darfur  since the start of the rebellion three years ago.  More than 2.4 million people have been left homeless.
 
The African Union and the United Nations have set a deadline of April 30 for reaching an agreement.  After months of inconclusive negotiations⁵, Mr. Salim says the parties have an opportunity to decide the fate of Darfur.

"No more delaying tactics," he added.  "The eyes of the world are on you, the people of Darfur are looking up to you, Africa is encouraging you.  Can you as leaders and representatives of the people muster⁶ the necessary political courage to end the misery⁷ of your people or would you take the option of letting them remain in refugee camps or internally displaced camps?  This choice, the choice and responsibility is yours, you who are gathered here, the government and the movements."

The Sudan government and the rebel groups are expected to submit their reactions to the draft agreement by Thursday.  Their initial response had been that of a cautious acceptance of the proposal.  Ahmed Tugod, is the chief mediator⁸ of the Justice and Equality Movement, one of the two rebel factions⁹ at the talks.
 
"As far as this document is concerned, now with the documents in our hands and the time left, it is reasonable time that we can reflect on this document and then we can say what we think," he said.

The U.N. Security Council voted Tuesday to freeze the assets and impose a travel ban on four Sudanese blamed for the bloodshed and rights abuses in Darfur.

1 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 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。

6 muster   

v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册

参考例句：

• Go and muster all the men you can find.去集合所有你能找到的人。
• I had to muster my courage up to ask him that question.我必须鼓起勇气向他问那个问题。

7 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

8 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

9 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别