Curso de ingls preparatrio p/ IRB Prof.

Rodrigo Armstrong

Syrias War: How about diplomacy? The Economist I Place the prepositions in the gaps. No preposition is a possibility. Were back where we were a year ago, says a Western diplomat of the latest international push to bring Syrias warring parties the negotiating table. Since the American secretary of state, John Kerry, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, announced May 7th their intention to back a peace conference, the pace of diplomacy has accelerated. Mr Kerry has been shuttling hectically around the Middle East. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, has been pencilled to convene the conference. His envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, who is also the Arab Leagues mediator, would, it is presumed, be the chief negotiator. But are the chances of success this time roundleading to a ceasefire, a transitional government and eventually an electionhigher than they were last May Geneva, when the outline of a deal was set ? Optimists say that the positions of Russia and America are notably closer than before. Although each still favours different sides, both quake the prospect of extreme Islamists taking the country the wake of Mr Assads eventual fall . The Americans had hitherto said that Mr Assad could not be part of a transition, whereas Russia said his removal should be a possible outcome rather than a precondition of any talks. But Mr Kerry, to the surprise of some the administration, appears to have shifted Americas position towards Russias, perhaps recognition that Mr Assads forces cannot be defeated the West sending a lot more help to the rebels than America is presently willing to give. Mr Kerry has apparently persuaded Turkey to make the same shift . Iran, which has furnished the Syrian regime with money and military training, has said it would take part in a conference, though France, among others, is opposed Irans attendance. II In this second part, substitute the words in bold for the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocation offered as an option on the ground / giving up on / forerunner / stick / sticking points / stooges Yet, though Russia and America are coming closer, awkward disagreements remain. For one thing, the Russians show no sign of quitting on Mr Assad: they have recently sent a batch of Yakhont anti-ship missiles to his troops. Moreover, it is unclear who would represent the rebel opposition in negotiations. A favorite of the Syrian National Coalition, the umbrella body in exile and Americas favoured representative, signed the abortive agreement last year in Geneva. But members of the current coalition worry that if they sit down with the regime they will lose what credibility they have locally virtually none with the fighters and precious little with civilian campaigners. In any case, Russia argues that the coalition cannot be the oppositions sole representative; figures in Damascus who are tolerated by the regime (accomplices, in rebel eyes) should, says Russia, be included. But it is the rebels who will be needed to make any agreement last. III Now, choose words to fill in the blanks. A word or expression may not be repeated. clout up for conceivably anathema cabal

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As for the opposition, most of its people remain that Mr Assad must before they will a conference, though American pressure may force them to change their mind. In addition, some insist that Mr Assad must first free all detainees, said by them to number 160,000 or so, and allow humanitarian aid to be Syria, before they will go to the table. We didnt lose thousands of martyrs and have our homes destroyed for two years later to let Assad stay, says a vegetable seller in Raqqa, an eastern city under rebel control. An equally big obstacle is the regimes reluctance to take a conference seriously. Mr Assad has named five people to attend it, including his prime minister. But they lack . The people who really for Mr Assad are a of close family members and the heads of the security forces, who increasingly rely on their allies: Iran and the Lebanese Shia movement, Hizbullah. Compromise, says an Arab diplomat, is to Mr Assad, who recently said again that his presidency is not discussion until an election due next year. Such polls have in the past been blatantly . IV In the fourth section, conjugate the verbs accordingly Furthermore, the regime (to regain) a measure of confidence in the past month or so as a result of gains on the battlefield. As The Economist (to go) to press, its forces (to threat) to take back the town of Qusayr, west of Homs and close to the border with Lebanon. If they (to manage) to do so, Mr Assad would strengthen his forces presence in the corridor between Damascus and Aleppo, Syrias second city, and tighten their grip on the coastal and mountain heartlands of the Alawites, his minority sect at the core of the regime. So he may be even less inclined to negotiate now than he (to be) a few months ago. V Fill in the blanks with the correct expression once more. Loth Melting down so as to eyeing thereby despite undermine

Seeing this, Britain and France want to arm the rebels tilt the military balance back against Mr Assad. Other Western governments, by contrast, worry that boosting the rebels would the chances of negotiation. Mr Kerrys shift, American officials, extremists among the rebels and fearing that the war is spreading across Syrias borders, destabilising Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, are still to see America dragged in. Washington is using the conference to buy time, but buy time for what? says Andrew Tabler, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, who favours intervention. The country is .