Twenty-five NATO countries and other contributors to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan have pledged about 7,000 additional troops to supplement the new U.S. force commitment to Afghanistan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the new commitment to the Afghan conflict, which she termed a "critical test for NATO."
二十五个北约国家和其他向阿富汗国际安全援助部队提供支援的各方已承诺向阿富汗增派约七千人的部队，作为对美国新近提出的向阿富汗增兵的补充。美国国务卿克林顿欢迎这一对阿富汗战争的新的承诺，她称这是‘对北约的关键性考验’。
The pledges announced by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rassmussen fall short of the 10,000 additional troops that Pentagon officials hoped for.
由北约秘书长拉斯穆森宣布的这一承诺没有达到美国国防部官员所希望的增兵一万人的数字。
But the NATO chief said it underlines the solidarity of the 44 ISAF countries and will have a "powerful effect on the ground."
但是这位北约秘书长说，这突显了阿富汗国际安全援助部队44个参与国的团结一致，而且将在战地产生强有力的影响。
The announcement followed a closed-door briefing for NATO foreign ministers by Secretary Clinton on the new Afghan strategy announced by President Barack Obama earlier this week.
在宣布这一决定之前，北约成员国外长在一次闭门会议中听取了克林顿国务卿汇报奥巴马总统本星期早些时候所宣布的新的阿富汗战略。
Clinton, according to a text of her remarks released by U.S. officials, said the need for additional forces - to supplement the 30,000 troops being added by the United States is urgent - but that the presence will not be indefinite.
据美国官员发表的克林顿讲稿，克林顿表示，急需增加更多兵力来补充美军三万人的增援部队，但是新增加的兵力不会无限期地部署在那里。
She reaffirmed Mr. Obama's intention to begin withdrawing U.S. forces in July 2011 but said the pace, size and scope of the drawdown will be based on conditions on the ground.
克林顿重申，奥巴马打算从2011年7月开始让美军撤离阿富汗，但是她又说，撤军的速度、规模和范围将依据当地的情况而定。
At a closing press event Clinton said 2011 will by no means end the U.S. commitment to the region.
克林顿在结束访问时举行的记者会上说，美国对这一地区的承诺决不会在2011年中止。
"Speaking for the United States, our civilian commitment will continue long after our combat forces leave. It should be clear to everyone that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past. The United States and our allies and partners have an enduring commitment to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region," she said.
美国国务卿克林顿出席北约外长会议克林顿说：“就美国而言，在我们的战斗部队撤离后，我们在当地的非军事使命将维持相当长的时间。大家应当清楚，我们不会重蹈复辙。美国和我们的盟友对阿富汗、巴基斯坦以及该地区要承担长期的义务。”
NATO chief Rasmussen also said the start of any withdrawal should not be been seen as the international coalition abandoning the country.
北约秘书长拉斯穆森还表示，任何撤军都不应该被视为是国际联军放弃这个国家的行为。
"Transition doesn't mean exit. There should be no misunderstanding. We are not going to leave Afghanistan to fall back into the hands of terrorists and the extremists who host them. It will not happen," he said.
拉斯穆森说：“过渡并不意味着退出，这不应有任何误解。我们不会让阿富汗再次落入恐怖分子和极端分子的手中。这种事情不会发生。”
Among countries confirming new pledges were Britain with 1,200, and Italy with one thousand.
在确认新的增兵计划的国家中包括将再派兵1200人的英国，和增兵1000人的意大利。
Clinton paid special tribute to Georgia, whose added contribution of just under one thousand troops probably makes the small Caucasus state what she termed "the largest per-capita contributor" to the NATO-ISAF mission.
克林顿特别赞扬了格鲁吉亚，格鲁吉亚计划增兵将近1000人，这使得这个小高加索国家成为对北约在阿富汗的国际安全援助部队“人均贡献最大的国家”。
But Germany and France, among the largest current contributors, said they would make no immediate increase.
德国和法国是目前向国际安全援助部队输送兵力最多的国家之一，但是两国表示他们不会立即增兵。
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said France unilaterally increased its troop presence last September to some 3,800, and will not even consider another change until a conference on Afghan aid being convened by Britain in late January.
法国外交部长库什内说，法国单方面在去年9月把驻军人数提高到约3800人，他们在明年1月下旬英国召开有关阿富汗援助问题的会议前不会考虑作出任何改变。
"If there is some place where, to get security for our people for the Afghans [and] we have to adjust, yes we'll do it again. But for the time being, nothing in terms of improving the number of soldiers before the London conference, where we are supposed to talk about strategy," he said.
库什内说：“如果在某些方面，为了保障阿富汗人民的安全我们必须作出调整时，我们会再次增兵。但是目前在伦敦会议召开前不会增加驻军数目。我们预计将在那个会议上讨论阿富汗战略问题。”
U.S. officials said they were hopeful the 7,000 figure for new allied forces would be just a starting point, and that additional commitments could come as soon as a NATO force-generating meeting set for next week in the Belgian city of Mons.
美国官员表示，他们希望盟军部队新增加的7000人只是一个起点，而在下星期北约部队计划召开的一次会议后会有更多的承诺。那次会议将在比利时的蒙斯市举行。 |