VOA标准英语2009年-Darfur Rivals Sign Deal in Doha

Sudan and Darfur's most active rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement, has signed a declaration of good intentions in Doha. Qatar has been mediating¹ talks between Khartoum and the rebel group since last Tuesday.
　
Sudanese rebel group JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim (back) stands behind his brother Jibril Ibrahim during signing in Doha, 17 Feb 2009

The Sudanese government and Darfur's most powerful rebel group signed a pact² for future peace negotiations³, but failed to agree on a cease-fire, after a week of talks.

The deal meditated⁴ in Qatar has laid the foundation for a second round of talks that will aim to address core issues in the six-year conflict. One of the Qatari mediators, Ahmad bin⁵ Abdullah al-Mahmoud, says the agreement includes measures to aid and protect refugees in Darfur.

The conflict in Sudan's Western region, Darfur, began in 2003, between rebel militia⁶ groups and Sudanese government forces fighting for control of the region. Since then, the United Nations estimates more than 200,000 people have been killed and another 2.2 million people displaced.

Neha Erasmus the program coordinator⁷ at Justice Africa based in London says the accord is a step in the right direction.

"All steps toward peace, I think, are positive and definitely, this is a step. But the problem with these peace talks is that it is only between JEM and the government. And JEM is not recognizing other rebel groups and other rebel groups are very clearly stating that JEM is seeking power by itself. You cannot have peace with such complex issues unless all the stakeholders are there and on board," said Erasmus.

The sides also agreed to exchange prisoners, but other rebel factions⁸ are refusing to talk to Khartoum and say the peace drive will fail without them. Qatar, the United Nations, African Union and Arab League have said the talks are preliminary and intended to pave the way for a broader peace conference on Darfur.

The second round of negotiations between the sides is to take place in two weeks in Doha. Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani says other groups among Darfur's numerous rebel factions are welcome to join the peace effort.

1 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。

2 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

3 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。

4 meditated   

深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑

参考例句：

• He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。
• She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。

5 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

6 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

7 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

8 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