VOA常速英语2007年-US, Iraq Agree to Principles for Future Relatio

By Michael Bowman
Washington
26 November 2007

The United States and Iraq have spelled out basic principles for a future bilateral¹ relationship as a first step to normalizing ties between Washington and Baghdad. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, the declaration, issued Monday, envisions a long term U.S. security commitment in Iraq after a United Nations mandate² for multinational³ troops expires.

The document outlines the foundations for future U.S. - Iraqi ties regarding security, economic, and political matters. Titled the "U.S.-Iraqi Declaration of Principles for Friendship and Cooperation," it is intended to guide next year's planned negotiations⁴ on the relationship between the two countries.

Before those negotiations proceed, Iraq will ask the United Nations to renew the annual mandate for multinational troops for one final year.

The White House says President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed the declaration during a teleconference. An adviser⁵ to President Bush on the war in Iraq, Lieutenant⁶ General Douglas Lute⁷, says the document reflects the two leaders' common belief that a long term relationship is in both nations' interests.

The declaration sets forth⁸ a U.S. commitment to support Iraq's democratic institutions, to promote its economic and financial well-being⁹, and to support its security forces. Specifically, the United States remains¹⁰ committed to training and equipping Iraq's police and military, to combat terrorism, and to help safeguard Iraq from foreign threats to its territory.

The document does not spell out a specific long term U.S. troop presence in Iraq, but such an arrangement is widely expected to be a cornerstone of the future U.S.-Iraqi relationship. President Bush has repeatedly stated that he envisions a need to keep some level of American military presence in Iraq after he leaves office in January, 2009. The White House notes that the United has security arrangements with more than 100 other nations spanning the globe, including recent agreements with Afghanistan and former Soviet¹¹ bloc¹² countries.

Both Iraq and the United States stress that the document is not a binding¹³ treaty, but rather a set of common principles that will guide future negotiations. It is hoped that a final agreement will be hammered out by the middle of next year.

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

3 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

4 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。

5 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

6 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

7 lute   

n.琵琶，鲁特琴

参考例句：

• He idly plucked the strings of the lute.他漫不经心地拨弄着鲁特琴的琴弦。
• He knows how to play the Chinese lute.他会弹琵琶。

8 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

9 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

12 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

13 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。