2006年VOA标准英语-Kofi Annan Arrives in Israel

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
29 August 2006

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, third right, leaves southern headquarters of UNIFIL, in Naqura, August 29, 2006

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in Israel after meeting with Lebanese officials and visiting U.N. peacekeeping operations. Mr. Annan will hold talks Wednesday with Israeli leaders in his continuing effort to bolster¹ the U.N.-mediated ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

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Kofi Annan is to meet with Israel's leaders and the families of two Israeli soldiers, whose abduction by Hezbollah militants² sparked the 34-day conflict in Lebanon. The U.N. secretary general is also to talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The U.N. chief is urging Israeli leaders to lift their air and sea blockade of Lebanon - something Israeli officials say they will not do until U.N. peacekeepers can enforce an arms embargo³ on Hezbollah. Mr. Annan says all efforts should be made to make sure the ceasefire holds.

"We do not want to back to a situation where we can have an explosion in six months or six years. Let us make that this time it [ceasefire] is for the good, and it requires both sides to cooperate," said Mr. Annan.

Mr. Annan is also calling for Hezbollah to release the two Israeli soldiers. He is expected to travel to Syria and Iran - Hezbollah's two main allies in the next few days.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Annan visited a U.N. base in southern Lebanon that is expected to be the headquarters for the 15,000-member U.N. force in Lebanon. Mr. Annan took part in a memorial service for five U.N. peacekeepers killed by an Israeli air strike during the fighting.

European Union member states have pledged about 7,000 troops to the international force. A number of Muslim countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia have also said they will contribute, although Israel has objected to any nations taking part that do not have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。