VOA常速英语2008年-Arab Parliamentarians Call for Unity at Meeting

By Daniel Schearf
Irbil
11 March 2008

A meeting of Arab legislators has opened in Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, with calls for Arab unity¹ and support for Iraq.  Daniel Schearf reports for VOA from Irbil.

Delegates opened the three-day Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union conference Tuesday with calls for Arab and Muslim solidarity² in dealing³ with the many problems facing the Arab world.

The list of their chief concerns included foreign interference, terrorism, poor economies and inflation.

Nuraddin Bushkoch is secretary general of the Union.

He says the Arab countries need to work together and to raise their cooperation to the same level as the dangers they are facing.  He says it will protect their sovereignty, civilization and natural resources.

Delegates stressed more support was needed for the Palestinians after recent Israeli attacks.

The Syrian delegate, Salim Abud, said the United States should end what he called the occupation of Iraq and interference in the region. 

He says the Arabs need to oppose American and Israel plans for a new Middle East.  He says the United States is attacking Arab history, politics and geography. 

Delegates also expressed concern about the situations in Lebanon, the Sudan, and Somalia.

They said they hoped Iraq would find peace and regain⁴ its rightful place as a beacon⁵ in the Arab world.

It was the first time the Arab conference was held in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq. The president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, thanked the delegates for choosing Iraq.

He says he respects the great step the Union made when it decided⁶ to hold the conference in Iraq.  He says he hopes the meeting will lead to a higher level of cooperation between Iraq and Arab countries and their people.

Libya refused to take part in the conference in protest to the U.S.-led military presence in Iraq.

1 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。

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 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。

4 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

5 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。