US Reports Progress in Mideast Talks
布什政府称以巴和谈取得显著进展

The Bush administration says Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are making significant progress toward an independent Palestinian state. In Egypt where officials say U.S. President George Bush may return to the Middle East if it will help the process.

布什政府说，以色列和巴勒斯坦人的谈判代表在有关建立独立的巴勒斯坦国会谈中取得显著进展。有关官员说，如果有助于推动和谈，布什总统可能会返回中东地区。

U.S. National Security Adviser Steve Hadley says President Bush is encouraged by progress in Israeli-Palestinian talks.

布什总统的国家安全顾问斯蒂芬.哈德利说，巴以和谈取得的进展让布什总统大受鼓舞。

"What we have now is negotiations ongoing, extremely intensive at several levels between Israelis and Palestinians and tangible progress in dealing with the hard issues that are required before an agreement is reached,” he said. “Is it done yet? No. Are we making progress? The president's view is, 'yes' we are making progress."

他说：“我们现有的就是和谈正在进行，以色列和巴勒斯坦人在不同层次上进行了非常深入的讨论，并在解决协议达成之前必须要应对的一些棘手问题上，取得了明显的进展。会谈已经完成了吗？没有。我们在取得进展吗？布什总统认为 ‘是的’，我们正在取得进展。”

Hadley would not say what progress has been made on which issues, because he says both sides would prefer to keep that progress private until a final deal is reached.

哈德利不愿透露在哪个问题上取得了什么样的进展，他说，和谈双方都希望在最终的协议达成前不公开取得的进展。

Speaking to reporters in Egypt before the president's speech at a global economic forum, Hadley says Mr. Bush will return to the region if there is something he can do to help advance the peace process.

哈德利是在布什总统在一个全球经济论坛发表讲话前在埃及对记者作出上述表示的。哈德利说，如果布什总统能够为协助推动和平进程做一些事，他将会返回中东。

In his speech, President Bush says he believes Palestinians will build a thriving democracy.

布什总统在讲话中说，他相信巴勒斯坦人将会建立一个欣欣向荣的民主制度。

"We must stand with the Palestinian people, who have suffered for decades and earned the right to a homeland of their own,” he said. “I strongly support a two-state solution - a democratic Palestine based on law and justice that will live in peace and security alongside a democratic Israel."

他说：“我们必须坚定地支持巴勒斯坦人民。 几十年来，他们一直在承受苦难，他们享有建立自己家园的权利。我坚决支持两国共存的解决办法。一个建立在法律与正义基础上的民主的巴勒斯坦国和一个民主的以色列和平安全并存。”

During this five-day trip, the president has been criticized by some Arab allies for being to close to Israel. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said Israel's right to exist must be balanced with the legitimate historical and political rights of Palestinians.

在五天的中东行程中，一些阿拉伯盟友一直批评布什和以色列走得太近。沙特阿拉伯外交大臣费萨尔说，必须在以色列的生存权和巴勒斯坦人合法的历史和政治权利之间求得平衡。

State-run media in Egypt said Mr. Bush aims to do nothing but appease Israel.

埃及官方媒体说，除了姑息以色列外，布什没有其他目的。

The president says America will help Palestinians achieve a dream they share with Israelis.

布什总统说，美国会帮助巴勒斯坦人实现他们与以色列共享的梦想。

"A peace agreement is in the Palestinians' interest, it is in Israel's interest, it is in Arab states' interest, and it is in the world's interest,” he said. “And I firmly believe that with leadership and courage, we can reach that peace agreement this year."

他说：“和平协议符合巴勒斯坦人的利益，符合以色列的利益，符合阿拉伯国家的利益，符合全世界的利益。我坚信，凭着我们的领导和勇气，我们可以在今年达成和平协议。”

Mr. Bush says it is a demanding task that requires action on all sides.

布什说，这是一项艰难的任务，需要各方都采取行动。

"Palestinians must fight terror and continue to build the institutions of a free and peaceful society,” he said. “Israel must make tough sacrifices for peace and ease restrictions on Palestinians. Arab states, especially oil-rich nations, must seize this opportunity to invest aggressively in the Palestinian people and to move past their old resentments against Israel. And all nations in the region must stand together in confronting Hamas, which is attempting to undermine efforts at peace with continued acts of terror and violence."

他说：“巴勒斯坦人必须打击恐怖主义，并继续为建立一个自由与和平的社会体系而努力。以色列必须为和平做出艰难的牺牲，减轻对巴勒斯坦人的限制。阿拉伯国家，特别是那些富产石油的国家，必须抓住这个机会，大力为巴勒斯坦人民投资，抛弃对以色列的宿怨。这个地区的所有国家必须联合起来，共同对抗哈马斯。哈马斯继续采取恐怖和暴力手段，试图破坏和平努力。”

One of the biggest obstacles to a peace deal is that Palestinians are divided between Hamas-controlled Gaza and the Fatah-led West Bank of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

不过，达成和平协议的最大障碍之一是巴勒斯坦现在被分成两个部分，哈马斯控制着加沙地带，巴勒斯坦民族权力机构主席阿巴斯领导的法塔赫控制着约旦河西岸地区。

Wrapping up his five-day trip to the region, Mr. Bush says America is deeply concerned about political prisoners and democratic activists as well as newspapers and civil society organizations that have been shut down.

"The time has come for nations across the Middle East to abandon these practices, and treat their people with dignity and the respect they deserve,” he said. “I call on all nations to release their prisoners of conscience, open up their political debate, and trust their people to chart their future."

President Bush says too often in the Middle East, politics has consisted of one leader in power and the opposition in jail.