VOA标准英语2008年-Greek, Cypriot Leaders Resume Unification Talks

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have met in Nicosia to lay the foundation for resuming reunification talks to try and end the 34-year division of the Mediterranean¹ island. This new peace drive, backed by the U.N., is seen by many observers as the most promising² bid to reunite Cyprus in decades. Cyprus has been split between a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north since 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup³ aimed at uniting the island with Greece. Nathan Morley reports for VOA from Nicosia.
　
Cypriot president Dimitris Christofias, left, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat shake hands after their meeting at a U.N. compound at the UN the buffer⁴ zone in the divided capital of Nicosia, 03 Sept. 2008

Following a meeting between Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, which lasted just over two hours, the United Nations special representative to Cyprus, Alexander Downer, said that significant progress had been made to build confidence and create a solid foundation for the negotiations⁵ to re-unify the island. U.N. officials said the two sides will meet again on September 11.

Downer, who took the job as U.N. envoy⁶ just two months ago, said the outcome of these talks was critical.

"There have been difficult moments over the past months, the Cyprus problem is not insurmountable and the negotiations can and must have a successful outcome," Downer said.

The two leaders have many sensitive issues to tackle during these negotiations including property rights, those displaced after the 1974 Turkish invasion and the presence of about 40,000 Turkish troops in northern Cyprus.

Cyprus's division is also a thorn in Turkey's bid to join the European Union and it is thought Ankara is eager for these new talks between the two communities to work.

Since March there have been several confidence- building measures between the two sides, notably⁷ the opening of a crossing in Ledra Street in the heart of Nicosia.

Nicos Rolandis served as the Greek Cypriot foreign minister between 1978 and 1983. He thinks that this new process is encouraging, but is not personally optimistic that the talks will actually yield results.

Rolandis does however admit that the friendship enjoyed by the rival leaders could prove to be a defining factor in the outcome of these talks.

"From this point of view things appear to be positive, and I don't think in the past we ever had such an arrangement," Rolandis said. "On substance, things are extremely difficult at the moment because time has lapsed⁸, 34 years - there have been many changes in the field, regarding settlers, regarding properties, regarding the attitude of the Turkish Cypriots which apparently⁹ has changed. So I'm not very optimistic myself, but we should give it a chance."

The former Turkish Cypriot foreign minister Serdar Denktash points the finger of blame for failed past peace processes at Greek Cypriots, saying they are not prepared to be flexible in negotiations. He told VOA News that he is not encouraged by this new peace drive either.

"Unfortunately we are not, I am not, the only reason for this is the Greek Cypriots attitude," Denktash said. "They do not want to share anything with the Turkish Cypriots and they show it and they make us feel it. So I am not optimistic."

Attempts to re-unite the island had until now been at a standstill for the past four years, since a U.N.-backed re-unification referendum was rejected by Greek Cypriots in the south but accepted by Turkish Cypriots in the north.

South Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004 and the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey.

 

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 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。

3 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

4 buffer   

n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲

参考例句：

• A little money can be a useful buffer in time of need.在急需时，很少一点钱就能解燃眉之急。
• Romantic love will buffer you against life's hardships.浪漫的爱会减轻生活的艰辛。

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 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

7 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

8 lapsed   

adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失

参考例句：

• He had lapsed into unconsciousness. 他陷入了昏迷状态。
• He soon lapsed into his previous bad habits. 他很快陷入以前的恶习中去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。