2006年VOA标准英语-Dispute Over Cyprus Latest Hurdle in Turkey's E

By Sonja Pace
Istanbul
05 December 2006

European Union foreign ministers meet next week in Brussels to discuss possible punitive¹ measures against Turkey for its failure to open its airports and harbors to EU-member Cyprus, whose Greek Cypriot government is not recognized by Turkey. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from Istanbul, the dispute is the latest in a series of hurdles² in Turkey's long-standing bid for EU membership.

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Flags of Turkey, (l), and the European Union fly over dome of a mosque in Istanbul (file photo)

The EU executive body, the European Commission, has already decided⁵ to recommend a partial suspension of negotiations⁶ with Turkey. Germany and France are calling for a review of Turkey's progress on the Cyprus issue in 18 months time and several other members also favor a review deadline.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said any suspension of talks would be a major mistake and the EU Commissioner⁸ for enlargement, Olli Rehn, told the Reuters news agency, deadlines will not produce good results. Instead, he called for the Cyprus dispute to be resolved through the United Nations.

Starting in the early 1970s now retired⁹ Ambassador Temil Iskit was deeply involved in Turkey's negotiations for EU membership. Speaking to VOA at his home in Istanbul, Iskit acknowledges that Turkey has not fulfilled its signed pledge to open up its airports and harbors to the Greek Cypriots. But he says the EU has also not lived up to its verbal promises to lift the economic embargo¹¹ on Turkish northern Cyprus.

"What we say is - you have made a promise concerning northern Cyprus," he said. "We have signed this protocol¹² on the other hand. So, this is a quid pro⁷ quo - lift the embargo, we'll open our ports."

Iskit says the EU cannot fulfill¹⁰ its promise because of Greek Cypriot opposition¹³.

Some liken that to blackmail¹⁴ and many Turks feel betrayed by the EU, especially after Turkish Cypriots, with Ankara's backing, voted for a U.N. plan to resolve the Cyprus issue and reunite the divided island in 2004. Greek Cypriots voted against the plan and were nonetheless admitted to the EU Many Turks say that has given the Greek Cypriot government veto power over Turkey's accession bid.

There is also a widespread feeling in Turkey that this latest dispute over Cyprus is just another excuse to keep Turkey out.

Ambassador Iskit says there is great anxiety within the EU over Turkey's membership.

"Turkey is a very big country. Turkey is a Muslim country," he said. "So, there are cultural misgivings¹⁵ or prejudices. Cyprus has become a pretext¹⁶ which hides these prejudices and the fact that when Turkey enters [the EU] it will change the EU very much."

But, such change need not be negative, says political sociologist¹⁷ Dogu Ergil of Ankara University. After all, he says, Europe's long-term prospects¹⁸ are not that strong.

"Europe is an economical giant, but politically a mediocre¹⁹ power center, and militarily, it's a dwarf," he said.

Ergil sees Europe as trying to move away from NATO as its sole source of protection and he says Turkey with its large, well trained military and its economic potential could be a definite bonus.

"They need Turkey for the defense²⁰ of Europe," he said. "Secondly²¹, Turkey is a big market and it has a vital population. The population of Europe is aging and dwindling²². So, I think Turkey will provide the manpower and economic dynamism that the West needs."

Ergil says Turkey is not yet ready for such a role. It needs to continue its political and economic reforms before it is ready for EU membership. Estimates are that membership negotiations will last over a decade. Still, Turkish analysts²⁴ say the process itself has been good for Turkey in providing a vital incentive²⁵ to modernize²⁶ and liberalize both its political and economic systems.

But not all Turks favor joining the EU Political analyst²³ Hasan Unal of Ankara's Bilkent University is among the euro-skeptics. He cites the differences between Turkey and other EU members and says, contrary to the general belief, Turkey does not stand to benefit much from joining and instead should take care of its own development.

"It is not European Union money that is going to make us prosperous," he said. "Plus, the European Union 'honey-pot' [source of wealth] is empty now. What we need to understand is that the European Union membership is not as beneficial for the acceding²⁷ countries as it used to be in the 1960's, 70's and 80's."

Unal favors a special partnership²⁸ agreement between Turkey and the EU, but not full membership.

Ambassador Temel Iskit disagrees. He says both Turkey and the EU will benefit from Turkey's full membership although he acknowledges that Turkey's entry will signal, what he calls, a complete "transformation²⁹" fo the EU.

And Iskit says that despite the current dispute over the Cyprus issue, negotiations will continue.

"The train continues its journey, it will continue its journey because we have common interests," he said.

Iskit says Turkey made a strategic decision long ago that its interests lay westward³⁰ and he says day to day politics will not interfere³¹ in that long-term goal.

1 punitive   

adj.惩罚的，刑罚的

参考例句：

• They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
• The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

2 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

3 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

4 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

8 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

9 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。

10 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

11 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

12 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

13 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

14 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

15 misgivings   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧

参考例句：

• I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
• Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后， 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧！ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16 pretext   

n.借口，托词

参考例句：

• He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
• He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口，没参加那个会议。

17 sociologist   

n.研究社会学的人，社会学家

参考例句：

• His mother was a sociologist,researching socialism.他的母亲是个社会学家，研究社会主义。
• Max Weber is a great and outstanding sociologist.马克斯·韦伯是一位伟大的、杰出的社会学家。

18 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

19 mediocre   

adj.平常的，普通的

参考例句：

• The student tried hard,but his work is mediocre. 该生学习刻苦，但学业平庸。
• Only lazybones and mediocre persons could hanker after the days of messing together.只有懒汉庸才才会留恋那大锅饭的年代。

20 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

21 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

22 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

23 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。

24 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。

25 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

26 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

27 acceding   

v.（正式）加入( accede的现在分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职

参考例句：

• After all, political careers depend acceding tothe demands the central government. 毕竟政治事业是要满足中央政府的要求的。 来自互联网
• Shall you have any problem acceding the folders, please let me knows. 如果存取文件有任何问题请和我联系。 来自互联网

28 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

29 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

30 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

31 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。