voa标准英语2008年-EU Report Presses Turkey On Reforms

European Union candidate Turkey said on Wednesday it was determined¹ to pursue its bid to join the 27-member bloc² after the European Commission urged Ankara in a progress report to speed up reforms. Brussels strongly criticized the Turkish government over human rights, in particular press freedom and women's rights. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul on the growing concern that Turkey's EU membership bid is in danger of coming to a halt.

In its annual report card on membership readiness, the European Commission, the EU's executive body, called Turkey a reliable international partner and a key energy transit³ route. But Brussels warned the country that it must work harder on political and human rights reforms, particularly involving women.

Human rights groups also have criticized Turkey, saying it does not do enough to protect women. Recently, there has been an uproar⁴ over a Turkish court's decision to release from prison a journalist who is accused of raping⁵ a 14-year-old girl on grounds that a report concluded that girl was not psychologically affected⁶ by the attack.

The EU report will likely fuel growing criticism in Turkey that Ankara's membership drive has slowed, if not stopped, since formal talks on accession began in 2005. But Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan downplayed the latest EU criticisms.
　

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan (File)

"Until Turkey becomes a full member, we will have criticisms about things which we have not yet done," said Ali Babacan. "But on the other hand, we have prepared our national program which is almost finalized⁷, which will cover wide variety of reforms."

Another topic of concern involves freedom of speech. Turkish courts have blocked access to several Internet web sites, including the popular video-sharing site YouTube, for allegedly insulting prominent Turks or for allegedly promoting Kurdish rebel propaganda. Newspapers are no exception.

At the daily meeting of the Taraf newspaper, the editorial board discusses the latest threats of prosecution⁸ by Turkey's armed forces. The paper regularly challenges the country's generals for their handling of the war against Kurdish separatists and their involvement in Turkish politics.

But that stance, according to the paper's deputy editor Yasmin Congar, has made it a powerful enemy.

"There are certain threats, a certain pressure, not only from the military, but from the government as well," said Yasmin Congar. "But it does not change much for us really. We will keep doing this, nothing will stop us. Officials in Turkey, both civilian⁹ and military, will have to get used to life in a democratic society."

Still the 2008 EU report card praises Turkey for making progress on economic reforms and solidifying¹⁰ trade ties with the European Union.

Since 1995, trade between the EU and Turkey has almost tripled to $120 billion, according to EU estimates, and it continues to grow.

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 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。

3 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

4 uproar   

n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸

参考例句：

• She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
• His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。

5 raping   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的现在分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• In response, Charles VI sent a punitive expedition to Brittany, raping and killing the populace. 作为报复，查理六世派军讨伐布列塔尼，奸淫杀戮平民。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The conquerors marched on, burning, killing, raping and plundering as they went. 征服者所到之处烧杀奸掠，无所不做。 来自互联网

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 solidifying   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的现在分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• The substances are formed from a mixture of liquids solidifying under pressure. 这些材料是由几种液体混合在一起并加压使之凝固而成的。
• Painting is an art solidifies time and space for solidifying. 绘画是凝固了的时间和空间的艺术。