U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on a visit aimed at increasing U.S.-Indian strategic relations, has told officials in New Delhi that Washington's commitment to a deeper relationship with India is not likely to change no matter who the next American president is. Gates also repeated his hope that the current Turkish incursion into northern Iraq is short and narrowly focused.
美国国防部长盖茨为了加强美国和印度的战略关系而出访印度。他在新德里对印度官员说，无论谁当选下届美国总统，美国政府都不大可能改变加强与印度关系的承诺。盖茨重申，他希望目前土耳其军队进入伊拉克北部的行动是短暂的，目标也是限制在很小范围。
The U.S. defense secretary says he told India's leaders that whether a Democrat or Republican succeeds President Bush in the White House, the next U.S. administration will not change course when it comes to the growing partnership between India and the United States.
美国国防部长盖茨说，他告诉印度领导人，无论接替布什总统入主白宫的是民主党人还是共和党人，下届美国政府都不会改变美国与印度加深夥伴关系的方针。
"The steadily improving relationship with India is one that will continue regardless of who is elected President in the United States in November," Gates said. "I think there is very broad bi-partisan support in the United States for continuing to expand this relationship between the world's two biggest democracies."
他说：“无论谁在11月当选美国总统，美国都将继续与印度稳步加深关系。我认为，美国继续扩展世界上两个最大的民主国家之间关系的做法，在美国得到各党派的广泛支持。”
As a sign of India's changing strategic outlook, New Delhi has moved away from almost exclusive reliance on Moscow for its military hardware.
印度政府改变了几乎单纯依赖莫斯科提供军事装备的做法，这显示新德里的战略观念正在转变。
Russia still supplies much of the armaments and technology for India's military, but U.S. and European companies are currently in competition with a Russian manufacturer for the sale of 126 jet fighters to India.
俄罗斯仍然为印度军队提供大部分装备和技术，但美国和欧洲的公司目前正在与一家俄罗斯制造厂商竞争，争取向印度出售126架喷气式战机。
Formal bidding for the $10 billion fighter contract is scheduled to close next Monday, and two American defense contractors got a boost for their bid Wednesday from Defense Secretary Gates.
按照预定日程安排，这笔价值100亿美元的战机合同的正式投标将于下星期一结束。国防部长盖茨支持两家美国国防承包商参加竞标。
He pitched the attributes of Boeing and Lockheed Martin aircraft during his meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defense Minister A.K. Antony and other top Indian government officials.
盖茨在会见印度总理辛格、印度国防部长安托尼以及其他印度政府高级官员的时候，特别提到波音公司和洛克希德.马丁公司生产的战机的特性。
"I indicated that we obviously are interested and believe that we are very competitive in the selection of the new fighter, the multi-role combat fighter, here in India and that we ask no special treatment," Gates said. "We simply are pleased to have a place at the table and we believe in a fair competition that we have a very good case to make."
他说：“我表明，我们当然很感兴趣，而且相信我们在印度对多功能新战机的选择中很有竞争力，同时我还表明，我们不要求任何特殊待遇。我们只是对能参与竞争感到高兴，而且我们相信，我们在公平竞争中获胜的机会很大。”
Gates said he would tell Turkish leaders in Ankara Thursday that their five-day-old incursion into Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish separatists should to be short and narrowly focused.
盖茨说，他星期四将在安卡拉告诉土耳其领导人，土耳其军队为追击库尔德分离分子而进入伊拉克境内5天，这一行动应当是短期的，而目标也应限制在很小范围。
"I measure quick in terms of days, a week or two, something like that. Not months," he said.
他说：“我估计应当很快、几天或者一两个星期，大致是这样。不会是几个月。”
Gates, speaking to reporters here Wednesday, called on Turkey not to rely only on military means to combat disaffection by the country's Kurdish population.
盖茨星期三在新德里对记者发表谈话时，敦促土耳其不要依赖军事手段对付国内库尔德族的不满情绪。 |