2006年VOA标准英语-Al-Maliki, Cabinet Sworn Into Office in Ir

By Margaret Besheer
Washington
20 May 2006

 
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaks to parliament as he announces his new cabinet in Baghdad, May 20, 2006
  
After more than five months of political negotiations¹, Iraq's parliament approved a government of national unity² Saturday, in a move many hope will help reduce violence and restore stability to the country.

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In a nationally televised ceremony from inside Baghdad's heavily protected Green Zone, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his 37 Shi'ite, Kurdish and Sunni Arab ministers took their oaths of office.

Several of the top posts, including oil, trade and finance went to Shi'ites. The country's Kurds held on to the Foreign Ministry³, while a Sunni Arab will head the Justice Ministry.  At least three of the ministers are women.

But three key posts - interior, defense⁴ and national security - were filled with only temporary appointments, after negotiations failed to yield consensus⁵ on candidates.  Filling these posts is seen as critical to reining⁶ in insurgents⁷ and the spread of sectarian violence.

Nouri al-Maliki    
  
Prime Minister al-Maliki told parliament he would make restoring security and stability his top priority. He said his government would expand national dialogue among Iraq's sectarian and ethnic⁸ groups in the spirit of reconciliation⁹. He said the government would work to integrate militias¹⁰ into the official security forces, and he set as a goal establishing a timetable for Iraq's security forces to assume full control, so coalition¹¹ forces could leave Iraq.

After the ceremony, Mr. al-Maliki told reporters that the Iraqi nation had sacrificed too much, and is still suffering killing¹², terrorism and suppression. At least two dozen Iraqis were reported killed in new violence Saturday.  At least 19 died in a bomb blast in the Shi'ite district of Sadr City in the capital.  In the western town of Qaim, near the Syrian border, five policemen were killed and 10 others wounded in a suicide bombing.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, welcomed the inauguration¹³ of the new government, saying it provides "a strong foundation for progress in Iraq." He said there would be challenges ahead, but he pledged the United States would work with the new government to bring security and economic prosperity to the country.

Iraqi reaction to the new Cabinet was mixed. 

One man said that he welcomed the new government as a positive step, adding that the distribution of ministerial posts among Shi'ites, Kurds and Sunni Arabs was mostly fair.  However, he says nothing has changed, and if the government really wants change, it must do more for the people.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

6 reining   

勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理

参考例句：

• "That's a fine bevy, Ma'm,'said Gerald gallantly, reining his horse alongside the carriage. "太太！好一窝漂亮的云雀呀！" 杰拉尔德殷勤地说，一面让自己的马告近塔尔顿的马车。
• I was a temperamental genius in need of reining in by stabler personalities. 我是个需要由更稳重的人降服住的神经质的天才。

7 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

8 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。

9 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。

10 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

12 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。

13 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。