First Meeting to Form a New Iraqi Government

 

Broadcast: April 19, 2003
By Jill Moss¹

On Tuesday, Iraqi political and religious1 leaders met for the first time to discuss how to form a new government in Iraq. The talks were held near the southern city of Ur-believed to be the oldest known city in civilization.
More than seventy Shiite and Sunni Muslim community leaders, exiled Iraqi activists², tribal³ leaders and ethnic⁴ Kurds took part in the talks. The delegates gathered in tents at Tallil Air Base. British, American and Polish diplomats⁵ supervised2 the heavily guarded meeting.
The Iraqis called for an end to the violence and widespread stealing that have taken place since Saddam Hussein's government was defeated by an American-led military force.
The goal of the meeting was to take the first steps to form a new Iraqi government in which all citizens are represented. The delegates released a thirteen-point statement following the meeting. The statement said how they plan to establish a federal3 system with leaders chosen by the Iraqi people--not by outside forces. The statement said the new Iraqi government would be based on the rule of law, democracy, nonviolence and inclusion of all groups, including women.
Now that fighting has ended throughout most of Iraq, the country is being temporarily administered by the United States. Retired⁶ General Jay Garner⁷ will supervise the rebuilding under General Tommy Franks, the commander of American forces in Iraq.
President Bush's special representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, told the delegates the United States does not plan to rule Iraq. He said American officials want Iraq to establish its own democratic4 system based on national traditions and values.
However, the design of such a government remains⁸ unclear. About sixty percent of Iraq's twenty-four-million people are Shiite. Yet, Saddam Hussein's Sunni-controlled Baath Party repressed them for more than thirty years. Now, at least five Iraqi Shiite groups are competing for influence in Iraq.
Among them is the Supreme⁹ Council for the Islamic Revolution of Iraq. This Iranian-based exile group boycotted¹⁰ the talks to protest temporary American military rule. Thousands of supporters of the group and other Iraqis protested the talks in nearby Nasiriyah.
Ahmed Chalabi, head of another Iraqi exile group, the Iraqi National Congress, also did not attend the meeting. He sent a delegate in his place. The United States has met with this exiled group in the past about a possible Iraqi government. Some people believe the United States wants Mister Chalabi to be the new leader of Iraq.
During the talks, delegates disagreed about how big a part religion would play in the country's new political structure. They did agree on the need for future talks. The next in a series of similar meetings will take place next week.
This VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS, was written by Jill Moss.
1. religious [rI5lIg[s] adj 信奉宗教的，虔诚的
2. supervise [5sjJ:p[vaIz] v.监督，管理，指导
3. federal [5fed[r[l] adj. 联邦的，同盟的，联邦制的
4. democratic [7dem[5krAtIk] adj.民主的，民主主义的

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 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》

6 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

7 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。

8 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。

9 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

10 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。