VOA标准英语2009年-French Prime Minister Visits Iraq to Talk

The French prime minister is visiting Baghdad on Thursday, with a large delegation¹ of French political and business leaders, in another positive sign for the war-torn nation. A trip to Kurdistan is also on the agenda for the French official.
　
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (file)

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon is the first foreign leader to visit Iraq since US-led forces officially withdrew combat troops from Iraqi cities on June 30.

He told a joint³ press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that in the wake of the U.S. pullout, Iraq had "now entered a new phase."

Mr. Fillon arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, with a large delegation of French officials and top French business leaders for a short visit. The French prime minister's office said several business agreements would be signed during the visit.

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki, for his part, urged the French government and French firms to invest in Iraq, now that the security situation in the country has improved.
　
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (file photo)

He says that a horizon of cooperation is now open for French firms and they welcome their presence in Iraq in all fields to help rebuild infrastructure⁴. France, he adds, is an historic partner of Iraq, and Iraq will work toward strong political and economic ties.

France was a top business partner of Iraq during the long reign² of Saddam Hussein, building many roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects, including Iraq's telecommunications network.

Iraqi Defense⁵ Ministry⁶ spokesman, Mohammed al-Askari told a press conference that the country's military was aiming to build its forces to meet the challenges facing it, after the U.S. pullout.

He says "we have the power to quash any violence, but that we hope that we don't have to face too many challenges at once." He adds that Iraq is trying to build its air capabilities⁷, first with helicopters, and eventually with fighter jets, to be ready for the final U.S. pullout in 2011.

Baghdad security spokesman, Qassem Mohammed Atta, also told journalists that Iraqi security forces were busy taking all precautions to stop terrorist attacks, now that U.S. troops had handed over most security responsibilities to Iraqi forces.

He says that it's necessary to erect⁸ barriers to stop terrorist attacks across Baghdad, but that this is just a temporary step to bring the security situation under control. "Once things improve," he adds," we will re-evaluate, before taking steps to remove all concrete barriers."

Iraq announced, Wednesday, that the month of June was the bloodiest⁹ in eight months, with an increase in deadly attacks in the lead-up to the withdrawal¹⁰ of U.S. troops.

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 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 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。

6 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。

7 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

8 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

9 bloodiest   

adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• The Russians were going to suffer their bloodiest defeat of all before Berlin. 俄国人在柏林城下要遭到他们的最惨重的失败。 来自辞典例句
• It was perhaps the bloodiest hour in the history of warfare. 这也许是战争史上血腥味最浓的1个小时。 来自互联网

10 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。