Iraq's ambassador to the United States says his country still needs U.S. reconstruction assistance, despite large Iraqi fiscal surpluses driven by record-high oil prices. In Washington the ambassador spoke on U.S. television.
伊拉克驻美国大使苏迈达伊说，伊拉克仍然需要美国帮助伊拉克的重建工作，尽管创记录的高油价给伊拉克带来巨额财政盈余。苏迈达伊是在华盛顿的一个美国电视节目上发表上述讲话的。
When it comes to government revenue, Iraq and the United States are going in opposite directions. While Iraqi coffers continue to expand, the U.S. federal deficit is spiking, and projected to top $300 billion this year amid sluggish U.S. economic growth.
在政府财政收入方面，伊拉克和美国的情况正相反。伊拉克国库收入持续扩大，但美国联邦政府赤字不断飙升，而且美国财政赤字将因经济发展缓慢预计今年超过3千亿美元。
The contrast in national finances has led several U.S. lawmakers to question why the United States continues to spend billions of dollars to help Iraq rebuild its infrastructure in the post-Saddam era, when Iraq appears more than able to handle the financial burden on its own.
美伊两国财政状况的反差使一些美国议员质疑，当伊拉克似乎完全有能力独自应付其财政负担时，美国为什么还要继续投入数十亿美元，在后萨达姆时代帮助伊拉克重建其基础设施。
Speaking on CNN's Late Edition program, Ambassador Samir Sumaida'ie said Iraq's fiscal situation may be improving, but the needs of the country still outweigh its financial resources.
伊拉克驻美国大使苏迈达伊在美国有线电视网《最新版本》节目中说，伊拉克的财政状况可能正在改善，但是伊拉克的需求仍然超出其财政资源。
"Iraq does have a surplus, but Iraq is a completely destroyed country," said Ambassador Sumaida'ie. "The infrastructure has to be rebuilt from the beginning [from the ground up]. A majority of Iraqis do not have access, even, to drinking water."
他说：“伊拉克的确有财政盈余，但伊拉克是一个被完全摧毁的国家。基础设施重建必须从头开始。大部分伊拉克人甚至无法喝到饮用水。”
The ambassador added that, while Iraq has money to spend, the government has had difficulty finding qualified contractors who are willing to work in the country, given security concerns. He stressed that his government is eager to initiate reconstruction projects, and has ambitious goals to that end.
苏迈达伊补充说，虽然伊拉克有资金，但是，出于安全考虑，伊拉克政府很难找到愿意在伊拉克工作的合格的承包商。他强调说，伊拉克政府迫切希望开始实施重建项目，而且抱着实现重建的雄心目标。
Both major Democratic Party candidates have pledged to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq, arguing that the United States cannot afford the financial burdens that an open-ended military presence in the country would necessitate. Both have admitted, however, that U.S. financial commitments to Iraq would not end overnight.
两位美国民主党候选人都保证要让美国军队撤出伊拉克。他们认为，美国无法承担没有限制的驻伊美军所需要的财政负担。但两位候选人都承认，美国承诺为伊拉克提供的财政援助不会马上停止。
Iraqi officials have said that they would be willing to repay foreign governments that invest in reconstruction projects.
伊拉克官员说，他们愿意偿还外国政府在伊拉克重建项目上的投资。 |