2006年VOA标准英语-Hamas Leader Meets Turkish Officials in An

By Amberin Zaman
Ankara
16 February 2006

Turkey has joined Russia in becoming the second non-Arab country to open its doors to Hamas officials. A five-man delegation¹, headed by Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, arrived in the Turkish capital Thursday.

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Khaled Mashaal, center, surrounded by security as he arrives at his hotel after meeting with Turkish foreign ministry² official in Ankara, February 16, 2006  
  

Reflecting the controversial nature of the visit, it was first announced that the Hamas delegation would be received by Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Hours after the delegation arrived, the prime minister's office said the meeting would not be taking place after all.

Instead, Mashaal and his men would be holding meetings with officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party at the party's Ankara headquarters. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was expected to take part in the discussions.

Western diplomats³ said the visit would likely harm Turkey's strong ties with the Jewish state. The relations, which are underpinned⁴ by intense military cooperation, had already come under strain over Erdogan's assertions two years ago that Israel was engaged in state terrorism against the Palestinians.

Gul defended Turkey's decision to receive Hamas officials, stressing that the meeting was taking place at their request. The foreign minister said Turkey's role was to help ensure that Israelis and Palestinians peacefully coexist.

Gul said that since Hamas won a democratic election, from now on it must act in a democratic way.

The foreign minister said he telephoned Israel's foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, to explain the nature of the talks. In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry said Livni had expressed Israel's objections to talks with what it termed "terrorist organizations."

Officials close to the talks said the Hamas meeting had been organized at the last minute and had been opposed by the Turkish foreign ministry. Senior members of Mr. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, which has its roots in political Islam, are believed to have played a key role in arranging the meeting.

The Islamic militant⁵ group swept to power three weeks ago in elections that shook the Middle East. The United States and the European Union, which Turkey wants to join, describe Hamas as a terrorist group. They are demanding that Hamas renounce⁶ violence, disarm⁷ and recognize Israel's right to exist as a pre-condition for entering dialogue with the group. Analysts⁸ are saying Turkey's decision to step out of line with U.S. and EU policies may earn it praise in the Muslim world, but will likely damage its image with its Western allies.

1 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 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》

4 underpinned   

v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的过去式和过去分词 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强

参考例句：

• The report is underpinned by extensive research. 这份报告以广泛的研究为基础。
• The statue of Diana was underpinned with charred piles. Diana雕像是建造在炭化了的木桩上的。 来自辞典例句

5 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

6 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

7 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

8 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。