VOA标准英语2010年-Crisis Group Says Sudan Border Dispute

Michael Onyiego | Nairobi 03 September 2010

According to a recent report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, stalled negotiations¹ to define Sudan's north-south border are fueling mistrust and tension just five months before a referendum which could split the country in two.

On January 9th of next year, citizens of southern Sudan will vote in a referendum that could see the region split from the North and form an independent nation. The vote is widely expected to produce an independent South but chronic² delays in preparation and stalled negotiations concerning post-referendum arrangements have cast doubts over the prospects³ for peace in the coming months.

One of the most critical issues is defining the actual border between the North and the South. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended Sudan's civil war in 2005, called for a north-south border to be defined within six months. Five years later, negotiations have failed to produce a boundary accepted by both sides.

According to the report, the majority of the border has been agreed upon, but disagreements within Sudan's Technical Border Committee have produced five areas of contention⁴ and ground talks to a halt.

Public disputes over other regions have also stymied⁵ the implementation⁶ of the border and "poisoned" the atmosphere surrounding the deliberations.

The International Crisis Group warned that the uncertainty⁷ surrounding the border is now creeping into other issues regarding the completion of the Peace Agreement. The report said the uncertainty has left the border dangerously militarized, and the report's author, Zach Vertin, told VOA a lack of clarity was likely to affect critical negotiations over the region's oil.

"The fact that most of Sudan's oil lies along this border has further complicated the situation," says Vertin. "It has amplified⁸ the political and economic dimensions of border demarcation. Both the regimes rely heavily on oil so this has been particularly politicized."

Vertin said the uncertainty has heightened insecurity and anxiety among border communities and many observers fear a return to violence if negotiations fail to produce an adequate oil-sharing agreement.

There are also immediate¹⁰ concerns being raised about the referendum itself. While the government in Khartoum has expressed its commitment to hold the referendum on time, there is doubt that critical issues such as border demarcation can be settled in time for the poll.

But Vertin says the progress of the agreements should not necessarily jeopardize¹¹ the referendum.

"Previously¹² Khartoum had tried to use demarcation of the border as a means to delay the referendum, arguing that it was absolutely necessary to happen before," he adds. "Certainly if it can happen before that is ideal, but it does not need to be completed necessarily. The self determination vote will take place in January but that does not automatically equate⁹ to independence. It is more likely that there will be a period between January and the end of the Peace Agreement's interim¹³ period in July 2011 to work out remaining details."

But Vertin warned going into referendum without an agreement was not ideal. The report urges both parties to continue with negotiations but says a definitive¹⁴ border demarcation should not be a precondition for the referendum.

Border demarcation may be the least of the region's worries. Just five months before the vote, the commission which will administer the referendum has barely begun to function. Voter registration¹⁵, which was to be completed in August, has not yet begun and many are skeptical¹⁶ the divided group will complete its task in time.
 

1 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。

2 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

3 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

4 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

5 stymied   

n.被侵袭的v.妨碍，阻挠( stymie的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Relief efforts have been stymied in recent weeks by armed gunmen. 最近几周的救援工作一直受到武装分子的阻挠。 来自辞典例句
• I was completely stymied by her refusal to help. 由于她拒不相助， 我完全陷入了困境。 来自互联网

6 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

7 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

8 amplified   

放大，扩大( amplify的过去式和过去分词 )； 增强； 详述

参考例句：

• He amplified on his remarks with drawings and figures. 他用图表详细地解释了他的话。
• He amplified the whole course of the incident. 他详述了事件的全过程。

9 equate   

v.同等看待，使相等

参考例句：

• You can't equate passing examination and being intelligent.你不能把考试及格看成是聪明。
• You cannot equate his poems with his plays.你不可以把他的诗歌和他的剧本相提并论。

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

11 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

12 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。

13 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

14 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

15 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

16 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。