VOA标准英语2008年-France Opens Diplomatic Mission in Northern Ira

By Suzanne Presto¹
Irbil
01 June 2008

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner inaugurated a new French diplomatic office in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil on Sunday evening, the second day of his two-day trip to Iraq. VOA's Suzanne Presto attended the opening ceremonies and reports from Irbil.
　

France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Baghdad, 01 Jun 2008

The French national anthem² filled the air in Irbil, as France opened a new consulate³ office in the capital of northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

The bright colors of the French, Kurdish and Iraqi flags stood apart from the white building that is now France's second diplomatic location in Iraq.

French Foreign Minister Kouchner and Kurdistan's Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani took part in the inauguration⁴ ceremony. Kouchner praised the security situation and stability in Kurdistan, saying that Kurds represent the future.

The foreign minister said Kurdistan's government must be a model of political stability for all of Iraq. He added that Kurdistan must set an example in the fields of human rights and women's rights.

The French foreign minister visited the southern city of Nasariyah on Saturday and Baghdad on Sunday, where he met numerous officials, including Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Kouchner said the security situation in Nasariyah is improving, but Baghdad is facing murders, kidnappings and bombings. He said Kurdistan's security and stability should be a model to these cities.

Kouchner got a big applause from his audience when he said "long live" the Kurds and Iraqis.

Taking the podium after the French foreign minister, Prime Minister Barzani called Kouchner a faithful friend to the Kurds. Mr. Barzani then praised Kurdistan for its political and economic improvements.

He said that if Kurdistan thrives, Iraq thrives. He stressed that Kurdistan needs the support of the international community, and that the Kurdish government is willing to offer all necessary support to the new French diplomatic bureau.

Mr. Barzani added that the opening of the consular⁵ office in Irbil is just the beginning of Kurdistan's strengthening relationship with France.

France, a strident critic of the war in Iraq, was one of the first countries to re-establish its diplomatic mission in Baghdad in 2003, after U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein.

1 presto   

adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的

参考例句：

• With something so important,you can't just wave a wand and presto!在这么重大的问题上，你想挥动一下指挥棒，转眼就变过来,办不到！
• I just turned the piece of wire in the lock and hey presto,the door opened.我把金属丝伸到锁孔里一拧，嘿，那门就开了。

2 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

3 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

4 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。

5 consular   

a.领事的

参考例句：

• He has rounded out twenty years in the consular service. 他在领事馆工作已整整20年了。
• Consular invoices are declarations made at the consulate of the importing country. 领事发票是进口国领事馆签发的一种申报书。