2006年VOA标准英语-Rice, Iraqi Kurdish Leader Discuss National Rec

By Jim Randle
Irbil, Iraq
06 October 2006
 
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks Friday with Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. The secretary's stop in Irbil was a continuation of her effort to get Iraq's many ethnic¹, religious and political factions² to work out their differences and bring an end to sectarian violence that many fear could drive the country apart.

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Condoleezza Rice and Iraq's Kurdish region president Massoud Barzani talk to media in Irbil, Friday Oct. 6, 2006

In a news conference, President Barzani played down the possibility that the largely autonomous³ Kurdistan region in northern Iraq might break away and become independent of Iraq. He said Kurds have a right to self-determination, but said he is committed to a "federal, democratic, and pluralistic Iraq."

Fears of Kurdish secession rose in recent weeks when the Iraqi flag was banned in government buildings in Kurdistan. Another concern is the bickering⁴ among Iraq's ethnic groups over the details of distributing the nation's oil wealth, some of which comes from Kurdistan.

Barzani did not repeat recent assertions that Kurdistan alone should control new contracts and business arrangements for oil pumped in the region. Instead he said all of Iraq should have a share of the revenues.

"As for the oil revenues, as it has been stipulated⁵ in the constitution, we are for a fair distribution of oil revenues for all of Iraq," he said.

Secretary of State Rice thanked Mr. Barzani for the Kurds' long cooperation with the United States, and said she appreciates his participation⁶ in the process of national reconciliation⁷.

She also reported progress in efforts to quell⁸ the activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the PKK. The group recently declared a cease-fire in its long fight with authorities in neighboring Turkey. Both Washington and the Turkish government say the PKK is a terrorist group. Rice said she is counting on Iraq's Kurds to help resolve the long-standing dispute.

"Everyone needs to play a role, Kurds need to play a role, the Iraqis need to play a role, Turkey needs to play a role,"

she said.

Rice's Iraq visit is intended to show Washington's support for Iraq's central government, which is under pressure to do more to stop the sectarian violence between Sunni and Shi'ite Arabs.

A U.S. military spokesman recently said the number of bombs found in Baghdad had hit an all time high.

Rice's stop in Irbil follows talks in Baghdad where she urged Iraq's political leaders to work out their differences.

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

3 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

4 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 stipulated   

vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的

参考例句：

• A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。
• Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句

6 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

8 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。