VOA常速英语2007年-Rice in Turkey to Discuss Kurdish Rebels, Iraq

By Sonja Pace
Istanbul
02 November 2007

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks in Ankara today (Friday) with Turkish leaders on how to counter Kurdish rebels, who've been launching attacks in southeastern Turkey from bases inside Iraq.  Rice then takes part in an international conference on stabilizing¹ Iraq, but as VOA's Sonja Pace reports from Istanbul, the rebel attacks are likely to dominate the meeting.

Secretary Rice said she was coming to Ankara to discuss an "effective strategy" to counter the threat posed by Kurdish rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). 

The rebels have stepped up attacks in southeastern Turkey in recent weeks and the Turkish government is threatening to respond with a military incursion into northern Iraq to strike at rebel bases there.

The United States has urged restraint, fearing that such action would create chaos² in one of the few stable areas of Iraq.

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara with her Turkish counterpart, Ali Babacan, Rice said the PKK is a common enemy. 

"But no one should doubt the commitment of the United States to this issue because as I have underscored, this is not just a problem for Turkey, this is a problem for Iraq, this is a problem for the United States, and so we have a common enemy and we need a common approach to dealing³ with the problem that we find ourselves in," she said.

Rice also met in Ankara with Prime Minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan who travels to Washington for talks on the border issue with President Bush on Monday.

Rice attends an international meeting on Iraq in Istanbul.  The conference brings together ministers and representatives from Iraq, Iraq's neighbors and other international powers.

Iraq analyst⁴, Joost Hiltermann of the International Crisis Group tells VOA past meetings on how to stabilize⁵ Iraq have been disappointing.

HILTERMANN: "This is exactly what is at stake, the future of Iraq and so it is rather distressing⁶ to see how little progress has been made in these meetings."
PACE: "Is there any indication there's going to be progress here in Istanbul?"
HILTERMANN: "I have seen no indication at all."

Hiltermann says indications are that Turkey is seeking to focus attention on the situation along its border with Iraq and the PKK.

"I don't want to play it down - the importance of that issue, certainly to Turkey, but in the overall scheme of things where Iraq is going - this is a very minor⁷ and temporary issue," he added.

Turkish officials say they are ready to impose economic sanctions against anyone dealing with the PKK.  They've said no decision on military action will be made until after Prime Minister Erdogan's talks with President Bush in Washington.

1 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

2 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

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 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。

5 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

6 distressing   

a.使人痛苦的

参考例句：

• All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
• It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。