VOA标准英语2009-EU says it is Not Time to Recognize Palestin

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
17 November 2009

The European Union has followed the United States in saying it is not ready to recognize Palestinian statehood, after Palestinian leaders declared they would seek that status at the United Nations. 

 
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (file photo)
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden, which holds the rotating European Union presidency¹, said the time is not right for recognizing a Palestinian state.

"I do not think we are there yet," he said. "I would hope that we would be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state, but there has to be one first. So I think that is somewhat premature². We have said previously³ if you go back to what the European Union has said that we would be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state, but the conditions are not there as of yet."

Bildt said the European Union is discussing other steps to increase support for Palestinian aspirations⁴. And at a press conference later in the day, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana offered strong backing for an eventual⁵ Palestinian state.

 
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana addresses the media at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 17 Nov 2009
"I do not think it is too early to have a Palestinian state. We would [have liked] to have a Palestinian state years back," Solana said. "The point is ... you know the negotiations⁶ have failed so far. [But a Palestinian state] is something the European Union has been defending for years back."

Palestinian leaders have said they would seek statehood recognition from the U.N. Security Council for an area comprising the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. But they have not set a date for this and the United states says any future Palestinian state must be the fruit of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Talks between the two sides have reached an impasse⁷ in recent months, despite Washington's efforts to revive them. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also tried to re-ignite the peace process, holding discussions in recent days with Israeli, Syrian and Palestinian leaders. 

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

5 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

6 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。

7 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。