VOA标准英语2013--克里回到欧洲进行叙利亚会谈

 

Kerry Returns to Europe for Syria Talks 克里回到欧洲进行叙利亚会谈

STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry returned to Europe for another round of talks with countries that are backing opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.  They are trying to get political opponents to agree to talks on a transitional government in Geneva. 

国务院——美国国务卿约翰·克里回到欧洲与叙利亚总统巴沙尔·阿萨德的反对者进行新一轮会谈。他们正试图获得在日内瓦建立一个过渡政府。

"There has to be a transition government.  There has to be a new governing entity¹ in Syria in order to permit the possibility of peace," said Kerry.

However, Assad's opponents have failed to come together behind Ahmad al-Jarba, who heads the main coalition² group.

That is blocking any agreement on joining talks, thinks American University professor Akbar Ahmed.

"The Syrian opposition³ has unfortunately failed on two counts.  Number one, to organize all the various different groups that are fighting that are involved under one joint⁴ leadership.  Number two, failed to produce that charismatic leader who normally emerges in a situation like this so that people see an alternative," explained Ahmed.

Ahmed also pointed⁵ out that the growth of al-Qaida-affiliated militia⁶ further undermines the opposition, especially as some fighters are breaking away from the main rebel Free Syrian Army.

State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that split does not weaken efforts to hold Geneva peace talks.

"There are thousands of different groups, and these are - many who were on this list were field commanders, so we’re still looking into what the exact impact will be.  Clearly, the opposition participation⁷ in a Geneva conference is vital," said Psaki.

With more civilians⁸ fleeing fighting, there are also questions about how inclusive a transitional government would come from those Geneva talks.

"There is an agreement among the opposition that it would need to be a government of inclusion.  There's an understanding of trying to find ways to protect the minorities, including the Alawites.  In theory there is a very strong agreement.  Again, what will happen in practice?" wondered Manal Omar, an analyst⁹ at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

President Assad has long claimed that foreign terrorists are targeting his Alawite minority and trying to divide the country.  With Russia and Iran behind him, Ahmed said President Assad has agreed in principle to Geneva talks because he is in a strong position.

"He knows the opposition hasn't quite formed into the movement that he thought may topple him in the beginning of this process several years back.  So his strategy is wear it out, just sit it out," said Ahmed.

President Assad's staying power unsettles some of his younger opponents, who have watched the return of military power in Egypt said Omar.

"They're fighting. They're sacrificing and watching Egypt and watching pretty much some of the same individuals and institutions re-emerge two years later really kind of struck fear in terms of what is happening in Syria after two years, after an incredible death count," explained Omar.

The war's impact on civilians is also part of talks in Europe this week. As much of one quarter of Syria's population is internally displaced and more than two million are now refugees.

1 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

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 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。