VOA双语新闻 Armitage Goes to Middle East to Discuss Iraq（在线收听）

The Bush administration is sending Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to Turkey, Jordan and Syria later this week on a mission partly aimed at helping improve prospects for next month's Iraqi elections. The United States accuses Syria of harboring officials of the former Saddam Hussein regime.

布什政府派遣副国务卿阿米蒂奇于本星期晚些时候前往土耳其、约旦和叙利亚等国，他此行的使命之一是为下个月的伊拉克选举创造更有利的条件。美国指责叙利亚为前萨达姆政权的官员提供庇护。

The mission to the Middle East could be the last before Mr. Armitage and Secretary of State Colin Powell step down next month before the start of President Bush's second term.

这次出访有可能是阿米蒂奇作为副国务卿在布什政府开始第二届任期开始之前最后一次中东之行了。下个月，他将和鲍威尔国务卿一起离任。

Officials here say Mr. Armitage will be appealing to officials in the three countries, which have Sunni Muslim majorities, to do what they can to persuade Iraqi Sunnis to take part in next month's elections.

此间官员说，阿米蒂奇将向这三个以逊尼派穆斯林为主的国家的官员发出呼吁，希望他们尽可能说服伊拉克逊尼派穆斯林参加下个月的选举。

Iraqi Sunnis formed the political base of Saddam Hussein, and many now fear the January 30 elections for a Transitional National Assembly will be a vehicle for the assumption of power by majority Iraqi Shiites.

伊拉克逊尼派穆斯林曾经组成前萨达姆政权的政治基础。很多人担心，1月30号举行的过渡国民议会选举将成为占伊拉克人口大多数的什叶派穆斯林夺取权力的一个手段。

U.S. officials meanwhile are concerned that a low turnout by Sunnis, some of whom say they will boycott the elections, will undermine the credibility of the election process.

一些逊尼派穆斯林曾经威胁说要抵制选举，美国官员担心，如果逊尼派穆斯林参加投票的人太少，会使选举程序失去可信性。

In a series of Tuesday-morning television interviews, Secretary Powell said the United States is urging friends in the region to talk to Iraqi Sunni leaders, and encourage them to get their followers to come out and vote, even if there is danger associated with it because of the insurgency.

星期二早上，在一连串的电视采访中，鲍威尔国务卿敦促该地区的盟友鼓励伊拉克逊尼派领导人号召他们的信徒参加投票，尽管他们面临叛乱的危险。

Mr. Powell said Iraqis want a freely elected government and that this is not a time, as he put it, to let tyrants and the terrorists take us back to the past.

鲍威尔说，伊拉克人希望能有一个自由选举产生的政府。他说，现在不是让暴君和恐怖分子拉我们走回头路的时候。

At a news briefing, State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli said the record of Syria on Iraq has been mixed, with the United States crediting the Damascus government with tightening controls on its border with Iraq somewhat.

美国国务院新闻发言人埃雷利在一个新闻发布会上说，叙利亚在伊拉克问题上的态度一向很复杂，美国对大马士革政府加紧对和伊拉克边界的控制表示赞许。

But the spokesman said more needs to be done, especially against former members of Saddam Hussein's government who the United States believes are operating from Syria.

但是，这位发言人说，叙利亚需要采取更多的行动，特别是对前萨达姆政权的成员要采取更多的行动。美国认为，他们中有些人在叙利亚进行活动。

"The continued presence of former regime elements in Syria who are working, we believe to the detriment of Iraq, and in support of the insurgency, is a problem and it's a problem that we think Syria needs to act to stop," he said.

埃雷利说，“前萨达姆政权的残余势力继续在叙利亚兴风作浪，他们祸国殃民，支持叛乱。我们认为，叙利亚需要采取行动，加以制止。”

A diplomat who spoke to reporters here said the United States considers Syrian help to the insurgency, however indirect, to be a major problem. He said one purpose of the Armitage mission will be to keep the heat, and the spotlight, on the Damascus government.

此间一位外交官对记者说，美国认为，叙利亚对伊拉克叛乱的帮助，无论有多么间接，都是一个重大问题。他说，阿米蒂奇此行的一个目的就是继续向大马士革政府施加压力，使它成为人们关注的对象。

Mr. Armitage will be accompanied to Syria and Jordan by William Burns, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

随同阿米蒂奇访问叙利亚和约旦的有负责近东事务的助理国务卿伯恩斯。

For security reasons no details of their itinerary were given, though reports from Turkey said the Deputy Secretary would arrive there next Sunday for meetings with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials.

鉴于安全原因，有关方面没有提供详细行程。但是，土耳其记者说，阿米蒂奇会在星期天抵达，和埃尔多安总理以及其他官员举行会谈。