敘叛軍與俄羅斯祕密談判
Syrian rebels are in secret tAlks with Russia to end the fighting in Aleppo, according to opposition figures, a development that shows how the US could become sidelined in some of the Middle East’s Most pivotal conflicts.
據反對派人士稱，敘利亞反政府武裝正與俄羅斯進行祕密談判，以結束在阿勒頗(Aleppo)的戰鬥，這一事態顯示美國在中東一些最關鍵的衝突中如何可能受到排擠。
Four opposition members from rebel-held northern Syria told the Financial Times that Turkey has been brokering talks in Ankara with Moscow, whose military intervention on the side of President Bashar al-Assad has helped turn the five-year civil war in the regime’s favour.
來自敘利亞北部反政府武裝地盤的四名反對派成員告訴英國《金融時報》，在土耳其的斡旋之下，他們在安卡拉與莫斯科方面談判；俄羅斯爲支撐巴沙爾.阿薩德(Bashar al-Assad)總統而進行的軍事幹預，使這場五年內戰的戰局朝着有利於現政權的方向轉變。
Russia is now backing regime efforts to recapture the rebel’s last urban stronghold in Syria’s second city of Aleppo.
目前俄羅斯正在敘利亞第二大城市阿勒頗的戰場上，支持敘利亞政府軍奪回反政府武裝佔據的最後一塊城市地盤。
The Russians and Turks are talking without the US now.
俄羅斯人和土耳其人正在沒有美國參與的情況下商談。
It [Washington] is completely shut out of these talks, and doesn’t even know what’s going on in Ankara, said one opposition figure, who asked not to be identified.
華盛頓方面被完全排除在這些談判以外，甚至不知道在安卡拉發生了什麼，要求匿名的一名反對派人士說。
US President Barack Obama’s administration has provided limited training and weaponry for the rebels but had been hesitant to give forceful backing that could turn the tide in the opposition’s favour.
美國總統巴拉克.奧巴馬(Barack Obama)領導的行政當局爲敘利亞反政府武裝提供了有限的訓練和武器，但一直不願給予有力支持，使戰局朝着有利於反對派的方向轉變。
President-elect Donald Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly signalled willingness to back Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s efforts to shore up the Assad regime, arguing they are working to stamp out Islamic extremists.
與此同時，當選總統唐納德.特朗普(Donald Trump)多次發出信號表示，願意支持俄羅斯領導人弗拉基米爾.普京(Vladimir Putin)扶持阿薩德政權的努力，辯稱他們正致力於消滅伊斯蘭極端分子。
While the secret contacts are not the first time a rebel representative has met with the Russians, those familiar with the talks said it was the first time such a large number of opposition groups were involved.
雖然上述祕密接觸並不是反政府武裝代表第一次與俄方人員見面，但熟悉會談情況的幾名人士稱，這是首次有多個反對派組織參與會談。
However, the negotiations are riven by the tensions between Ankara and Moscow.
然而，這些談判也受到安卡拉和莫斯科之間緊張關係的困擾。
Russia confirmed on Wednesday that Mr Putin spoke with Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the Turkish leader said he was seeking Mr Assad’s overthrow.
俄羅斯週三證實，在雷傑普.塔伊普.埃爾多安(Recep Tayyip Erdogan)揚言要推翻阿薩德之後，普京曾與這位土耳其領導人溝通。
A Turkish official, who asked not to be named, said talks over an Aleppo ceasefire were derailed after Mr Erdogan’s comments caused a Russian delegation to abruptly cut off talks while waiting for Mr Erdogan and Mr Putin to speak.
一名要求匿名的土耳其官員透露，埃爾多安的言論促使俄羅斯代表團當場退出談判，等待普京和埃爾多安交談。這個節外生枝的插曲使阿勒頗停火計劃落空。
Though the talks have made little progress, they underline the shifting political dynamics in the Middle East.
雖然談判進展不大，但它們突顯了中東不斷變化的政治動態。
Regional actors now seem more willing to bypass Washington to seek out pacts with Russia, which is keen to develop the image of a rising power that can help broker such deals.
該地區的各股勢力如今似乎更願意繞過華盛頓，尋求與莫斯科直接打交道，而莫斯科也熱衷於打造一個不斷崛起的大國的形象，能夠幫助撮合此類協議。
The fierce Russia-backed aerial assault has nearly flattened Aleppo.
俄羅斯支持的猛烈空中打擊幾乎把阿勒頗夷爲平地。
In the past week regime forces have made steady advances, capturing more than a third of rebel-held districts.
在過去一週，政府軍穩步推進，奪取了三分之一以上的反政府武裝控制區。
Yaser Alyoussef, spokesman for the Nour al-Din al-Zinki brigades, a rebel group, called the talks consultations, not negotiations, adding they were ongoing but had so far been unsuccessful.
反政府組織努爾丁.贊吉運動(Nour al-Din al-Zinki)發言人亞西爾.優素福(Yasser al-Youssef)形容此輪會談是磋商，而不是談判，他補充稱，會談還在進行中，但迄今沒有成功。
There are consultations with the Russians through Turkish mediation to calm things down and bring in essential goods into the city, he said.
在土耳其方面調解下，與俄羅斯人進行了磋商，以平靜局勢，使必需品能夠運入該市。
Even if just a single bag of rice could come in.
他說，即使只有一袋大米可以運進來。
At this point everything is needed, from food and fuel to medicine.
眼下什麼都是需要的，從糧食、燃料，到藥品。
None of those who spoke about the talks would clarify if the rebels met the Russians face-to-face or indirectly, with Turkish officials mediating.
在介紹會談情況的人士中，沒有人願意澄清敘利亞反政府武裝與俄方人員是面對面交談，還是通過斡旋的土耳其官員傳話。
