2006年VOA标准英语-Iraq's PM Calls For Regional Security Conferenc

By Margaret Besheer
Irbil, Iraq
05 December 2006
 
 
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
  
Iraq's prime minister says his country will hold a national reconciliation¹ conference to address its deepening political and security crisis. Nouri al-Maliki said after that Iraq would invite regional neighbors to discuss combating terrorism in his country. Iraq's security problems were highlighted Tuesday when at least 30 people were killed in several attacks in Baghdad. VOA's Margaret Besheer has more from Northern Iraq.

In a nationally televised address, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said a national conference would take place later this month to try to reconcile Iraq's rival religious communities.

Sectarian fighting between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has killed thousands of Iraqis in the past several months.

Mr. Maliki announced that he would also send envoys² to neighboring countries to encourage their cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Iraq.

The prime minister said that once the political climate is conducive³, Iraq would then convene⁴ a regional conference and invite neighboring countries who want to see stability and security in Iraq.

The government's eagerness to involve regional neighbors in helping⁵ calm the rising tide of sectarian violence was apparent at a meeting of the Arab League's Iraq Committee in Cairo. During the meeting, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari urged his Sunni Arab neighbors to become more involved in Iraq, saying their lack of support had led to Iran's rising influence in his country.

Later, Zebari told reporters that Iraq's government, its politicians and other groups would welcome Arab action in trying to improve the situation.

 
Iraqi women whose daughter and sister was killed in an attack grieve outside the Kindi hospital in Baghdad, 5 Dec 2006
  
The security crisis is deepening, with dozens killed in new attacks in Baghdad Tuesday. 

The U.S. military said gunmen attacked a mini bus carrying members of a Shi'ite society in the northern part of the city, killing⁶ and injuring more than a dozen people. The shooting was followed by a car bomb attack, but the military says that did not cause any further injuries.

In a separate attack in the capital, police say multiple car bombs detonated near a gasoline station.

In spite of the deteriorating⁷ security situation, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq says the American military expects the entire country to be under the control of Iraqi forces by mid-2007.

Major General William Caldwell told reporters that the plan is part of an accelerated timetable discussed by President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki during their meeting last week in Jordan .

1 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。

2 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

3 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

4 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。