VOA标准英语2009年-Iraqi Leader on Historic Visit to Australia

Security and trade have been the focus of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's visit to Australia. It is the first time an Iraqi leader has made an official trip to Australia, a country which supported the American-led campaign to oust¹ Saddam Hussein but last year withdrew its combat forces from Iraq.
　
Iraqi Prime Minister Kamil al-Maliki, left, inspects the guard of honor during his official welcome ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, 12 Mar² 2009

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Nouri Al-Maliki said two recent major bomb attacks in Baghdad were "regrettable," after a period of calm. Despite the violence and loss of life, the Iraqi leader insists that extremists in Iraq have lost their ability to challenge and confront local security forces.

With the United States intent on pulling its troops out of the troubled country, Mr. Al-Maliki says Iraqi authorities will be able to cope, after the withdrawal³.

Australia - a key U.S. ally in the invasion that forced Saddam Hussein from power in 2003 - pulled its combat forces out of Iraq in the middle of last year, fulfilling an election pledge by the incoming government of Labor⁴ Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Australian troops still remain in Baghdad to guard diplomats⁵ and a navy frigate⁶ protects Iraqi oil wells.

Trade between Australia and Iraq has been another dominant⁷ theme during Mr. Al-Maliki's five-day visit.

Iraq has said it wants a significant increase in Australian wheat imports, which were slashed⁸ after a scandal about bribes⁹ paid to officials of former President Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Rudd says a new phase of cooperation will bring closer economic ties…

"The prime minister and I have agreed it is time to build a strong relationship, based on our broad commercial and economic ties," he said. "Iraq has also agreed on new wheat sales from Australia to Iraq."

Iraq hopes to purchase around one-million tons of Australian wheat this year - almost triple the amount it imported in 2008 and up from zero in 2007, when the effects of the bribes scandal were still being felt.

Back then, Australia's monopoly wheat exporter AWB was found to have paid $222 million in kickbacks¹⁰ to Saddam's government, in return for wheat deals.

That damaging period in relations between both nations appears to have passed and Australia will send a senior trade negotiator to Iraq to facilitate greater links. Officials from Canberra will also share with Iraqi farmers their expertise¹¹ in cultivating crops in a dry climate.

1 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

2 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

3 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。

4 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

5 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》

6 frigate   

n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰

参考例句：

• An enemy frigate bore down on the sloop.一艘敌驱逐舰向这只护航舰逼过来。
• I declare we could fight frigate.我敢说我们简直可以和一艘战舰交战。

7 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

8 slashed   

v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
• He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

10 kickbacks   

n.激烈反应( kickback的名词复数 )；佣金，回扣

参考例句：

• Everyone at City Hall is receiving kickbacks. It's the only way to get anything done there. 市政府里的每个人都收回扣，在那里只有送红包，事情才办得成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• G raft or kickbacks paid to officials or law enforcem ent authorities. 暗中付给官员或执法人员的回扣。 来自互联网

11 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。