VOA标准英语2010年-London Conference Supports Afghan Reco

Major world powers pledged support for reconciliation¹ in Afghanistan to include members of the Taliban and mapped out a strategy for handing over increasing security responsibilities to Afghan forces.  The decisions were announced as ministers and delegates from more than 70 countries and organizations met in London. 

After a day of talks, consensus² emerged on two main issues; try to bring at least some members of the Taliban into the Afghan government fold, and strengthen efforts to get the Afghans to take over responsibility for their own security.

At a closing news conference, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband described 2010 as a decisive time and said the conference had delivered a unified³ strategy.

"I believe that 65 or 70 foreign ministers will leave today's conference very clear not just about the challenges in Afghanistan, but how they will be met first of all by the Afghan authorities critically with the support of the international community," said David Miliband.

A process of reconciliation to include members of the Taliban is high on the agenda and was outlined by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

"We must reach out to all of our countrymen, especially our less enchanted⁴ brothers who are not part of al Qaida or other terrorist networks who accept the Afghan's constitution," said Hamid Karzai.

President Karzai said he would convene⁵ a traditional peace council for the purpose.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States welcomes the effort.

"We believe that a lot of the foot soldiers on the battlefield will be leaving the Taliban because many of them have wanted to leave, many of them are tired of fighting," said Hillary Clinton.

Clinton said what is needed are incentives⁶ to protect those fighters and allow them to re-integrate into society.

A special international fund has been set up to help facilitate the process and Foreign Secretary Miliband said pledges for $140 million were received at the conference for it.

The United States and its allies have more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan with more on the way.  But with waning⁷ domestic public support for the war, foreign powers are eager to bring the conflict to an end. 

"Afghanization" is part of that strategy, as outlined at the conference by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

"Building up the Afghan institutions, the army, the police, civilian⁸ government, so that as they become stronger we can hand over to them the responsibility of tackling terrorism and extremism and our forces can start to come home," said Gordon Brown.

Prime Minister Brown said he believes the process of handing over to Afghan forces, district by district, could begin later this year.  

1 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

2 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

3 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

4 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

5 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

6 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。