VOA标准英语2010年-Turkish, Pakistani, Afghan Presidents

"Those Taliban who are not part of al-Qaida or other terrorist networks are welcome to come back to their country and lay down arms and resume life under the constitution of Afghanistan." - Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says his plan to re-integrate some Taliban insurgents¹ back into society has the support of Western governments that back his government.  Mr. Karzai spoke² in Turkey, where he met with Pakistani and Turkish leaders on the eve of a major London conference on Afghanistan. .

The meeting of Afghan and Pakistan presidents was the fourth of its kind to be hosted by their Turkish counterpart.  Observers say the latest session appeared to be the most relaxed, with smiles and what seemed a common sense of purpose, especially in dealing³ with the Taliban.

Afghanistan Pres. Hamid Karzai speaks at a news conference after talks in Istanbul with his counterparts Abdullah Gul of Turkey, and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, 25 Jan 2010

After the meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai said just fighting the Taliban is no longer an option.

"Those Taliban who are not part of al-Qaida or other terrorist networks are welcome to come back to their country and lay down arms and resume life under the constitution of Afghanistan," he said.

President Karzai said reconciliation⁴ with the Taliban is not a new policy of his government, but he says there is now an international consensus⁵, including the United States, on talking to the insurgents.

"The difference this time is that we have the backings of our friends, neighbors, and the international community, which I would also hope, as we go to London and in the London conference, [we] receive financial support," said the Afghan president.

The London conference on Afghanistan opens Thursday and is to include talks on international development assistance.  Paying for a program to encourage Taliban insurgents to give up their fight is expected to be one of the main Afghan demands.

When asked if Pakistan had already begun talking to the Taliban, President Asif Zardari did not deny it.

"We have to talk about peace, and if there are any people who are the reconcilables or the people who want to give up their way of life, the democratic governments always welcome them back," he said.

President Karzai praised Turkish efforts to ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over allegations of Pakistani support for the Taliban.  But observers say the efforts can only be seen as a success when a consensus is reached on how to deal with the Taliban.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said he is satisfied with progress so far.

He says the presidents expect a good outcome to the meetings.  He says they will set a good example for leaders in the region to take responsibility for their region. 

Turkey has  strong historical relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan and as NATO's only predominately Muslim member it is seen as uniquely placed to be a facilitator in the region.

The Turkish president hosts a meeting Tuesday with the Afghanistan and Pakistan presidents, and senior diplomats⁶ and ministers from the United States, Iran,  Russia, China and Britain.

 

1 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

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 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。

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 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》