2007年VOA标准英语-Iraqi, Turkish Leaders Agree to Cooperate Again

By Dorian Jones
Ankara
07 August 2007

The prime ministers of Iraq and Turkey have agreed to step up cooperation in the fight against Kurdish separatists in Northern Iraq. The agreement was announced during talks in Turkey's capital, Ankara. Dorian Jones has this report for VOA from Istanbul.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Ankara amid Turkish concerns about the resurgence¹ of Kurdish rebel activity in northern Iraq.

Ankara has been demanding that Iraq take action to halt attacks by rebels of the Kurdish Workers Party or PKK, who have killed dozens of Turkish soldiers over the past year. Ankara says the PKK has been using bases in northern Iraq to launch attacks inside Turkey.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (r) and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan (l) shake hands before a meeting, 07 Aug 2007

After a four-hour meeting with Mr. Maliki, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they had agreed to step up cooperation to halt the attacks.

Mr. Erdogan said he used the meeting to express Turkey's determination to fight terrorism, starting with the PKK. He said the two leaders reached an agreement on a stronger, more effective effort.

But Mr. Maliki told the Turkish leader that the agreement to chase down the PKK would first have to be ratified² by Iraq's parliament.

Political observers say Turkey has been bolstering³ its troops along the border with northern Iraq and was expected to warn the Iraqi leader that Turkish patience is running out. Turkey has threatened to stage an incursion into northern Iraq to deal with the PKK, which has been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984.

The U.S. and Iraq say a Turkish cross-border operation could destabilize Iraq's relatively⁴ calm Kurdish north.

"You cannot constantly be engaged in saber rattling⁵ and not at one point feel compelled to show that you can use it," said Soli Ozel, a Turkish political scientist.

In addition to security, the Turkish and Iraqi leaders discussed trade, and Turkey pledged to supply more electricity to Iraq.

The two leaders also discussed the future of the oil rich Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Later this year, the city is due to hold a referendum. Many analysts⁷ predict it will vote in favor of joining the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdish enclave.

According to analyst⁶ Aramgan Kuloglu, Ankara fears if that happens the oil wealth of Kirkuk could bankroll an independent Kurdish state, which Turkey opposes.

"This Kurdish state will gain an extra and huge economic power," he said. "The aim of the Kurdish people is to create a greater Kurdistan, and a greater Kurdistan territory covers some Turkish territory, some Syrian territory and some Iran territory."

Mr. Maliki's government, which is committed to holding Iraq together, is believed to share these concerns over Kirkuk. The future of Kirkuk is also expected to be on Mr. Maliki's agenda when he visits Iran on Wednesday.

1 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

2 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

3 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。