2006年VOA标准英语-US Presses for Turkish, Iraqi Cooperation on PK

By Margaret Besheer
Washington
27 September 2006

The United States is intensifying¹ its efforts to put an end to terrorist acts perpetrated by the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The rebels operate out of the Kurdish-controlled hills of northern Iraq, launching raids and attacks into neighboring Turkey. President Bush recently appointed a special envoy² to work with Turkey and Iraq in countering the rebels.

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		Joseph Ralston

Earlier this month, President Bush appointed retired³ General Joseph Ralston to be his special envoy for countering the PKK. Ralston immediately set out on a visit to the region, where he met with senior Turkish, Iraqi and Kurdish officials. He says he used his visit to encourage cooperation.

"It is important for the United States government, the Turkish government and the Iraqi government to cooperate because this is something that is not going to be solved by any one of us alone," he said.

Before Ralston's appointment, Ankara had repeatedly complained that Washington was not doing enough to stop the rebels. Turkey has some two thousand troops inside northern Iraq, and in July, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was considering sending in more soldiers to clear PKK bases there.

The United States has repeatedly warned Turkey against such an incursion, fearing it would destabilize one of the few quiet areas in Iraq. Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, this week warned his neighbors that interference in internal Iraqi affairs would not be tolerated.

On Monday, Mr. Erdogan will meet President Bush at the White House. The Bush administration has said increased cooperation in the war on terror, including countering the PKK, will be on their agenda.

Recently, the PKK has intensified⁴ attacks inside Turkey, targeting civilians⁵, tourists and Turkish troops. Last week, the PKK claimed responsibilty for a bomb attack near a police building in the eastern city of Igdir that wounded 17 people. The group also claimed another bombing that derailed a freight train in southeast Turkey.

Ralston told reporters that several steps need to be taken against the rebels, including stopping the flow of money to them and closing their offices in Iraq. He says all options are on the table, but a military option would be a last resort.

"We all believe that the use of force is the last resort, not the first resort, and that still is a guiding principle for all of us," he said. "But having said that, that does not mean we will not take military action; quite the contrary, all options are on the table."

Ralston dismissed Turkish media reports that implied he would be meeting with representatives of the PKK, saying the United States does not meet with terrorist groups.

While in Iraq, Ralston said he told Iraqi officials it is unacceptable that their territory should be a safe haven⁶ for Kurdish rebels. He said if the violence stops, economic ties between the two countries, which are already good, could flourish.

"Turkey is the best possible friend that Iraq could have in that neighborhood; there is no question about that," he noted⁷. "And the economic interests between Iraq and Turkey are critical for both Iraq and Turkey."

Ralston says he believes all factions⁸ in Iraq understand the PKK problem is a serious one and have agreed that strong measures must be taken.

1 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

2 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

3 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。

4 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

6 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别