VOA标准英语2013--Kerry to Mideast for Syria Talks

Kerry to Mideast for Syria Talks

The latest effort to end Syrian violence aims to bring together for the first time envoys¹ from President Assad's government and its opponents.

Though Washington and Moscow back different sides in the conflict, Secretary of State Kerry said they are united in getting to a transitional government for Syria.

"Russia and the United States share a belief that it is extremely constructive² and positive that we are working together, cooperatively, in an effort to try to implement³ a peaceful resolution," said Kerry.

UN chief says time is short

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov must move quickly.

"We should not lose this momentum⁴ generated by Minister Lavrov and Secretary Kerry," said Ban. "There is a high expectation that this meeting should be held as soon as possible."

But President Assad said there is confusion between a political solution and terrorism.

"We said from the beginning that we are prepared to talk with forces inside or outside of Syria," said Bashar.  "We do not have a problem with that, but on condition that they do not carry weapons.  You cannot carry a weapon and enter into dialogue."

President Assad said his opponents are too fragmented to negotiate.  U.S. Institute of Peace analyst⁵ Steve Heydemann says Damascus is rejecting talks on issues central to the conflict.

"Even though they do not want to cause a rift⁶ between themselves and the Russians, they are doing everything they can to make sure that these negotiations⁸ either do not happen or that they are gamed in such a way that all of the government's issues are defining the contents of the negotiations," Heydemann said.

Assad refuses opposition⁹ demands

President Assad says he will not resign.  But that remains¹⁰ a core demand of the main opposition group.

"That is not a demand that the U.S. supports" said Heydemann.  "It is not a demand that the European Union supports.  But if the coalition¹¹ sticks to it, it is hard to see that this negotiation⁷ framework can ever really get off the ground."

Syria's main opposition group is not meeting with Kerry on this trip to the region and has not committed to joining peace talks.

"We think that it is still too early to decide whether to attend because it is not clear what this conference is about," said George Sabra, the opposition's Syrian National Council Chairman. "Until now, there is no agenda or list of countries attending."

That is another problem as Russia says Iran should be included in the talks.  The United States has, in the past, opposed Iran's involvement, but says invitations to these talks are still being worked out with the United Nations. 

1 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

2 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

3 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

4 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

5 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。

6 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

7 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

8 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。

9 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。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 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。