US Asks Other Nations to Shut Down Iraqi Embassies

Broadcast: Mar¹ 21 2003

 

The United States, in a rare diplomatic move, is asking governments around the world to expel Iraqi ambassadors and shut down that country's embassies and ¹⁾consulates until a post-war ²⁾interim² authority takes over in Baghdad and names replacement³ diplomats⁴.

The Bush administration earlier this month asked more than 60 countries to expel Iraqi diplomats suspected to be intelligence agents. And now with war underway, it is asking governments to shut down Iraqi embassies altogether until Saddam Hussein is ousted⁵ and an interim authority is in place in Baghdad.

Confirmation⁶ of the U.S. move came from State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, who says Iraq's ³⁾defiance⁷ of U.N. disarmament resolutions left the United States and its allies with "no option" but to disarm⁸ the country by force, and as he put it, to "bring freedom to the Iraqi people."

Mr. Boucher said the United States is asking that Iraqi ambassadors and other chiefs of mission be expelled from the various countries hosting them and that other Iraqi officials have their diplomatic status revoked⁹.

He said operations at Iraqi missions should be temporarily suspended and their property and assets frozen to prevent theft or ⁴⁾embezzlement¹⁰ by their current staffs.

"Our expectation is that once an interim Iraqi authority is in place, it will name interim replacement representatives and diplomatic missions can reopen and truly represent the interests of the Iraqi people, rather than represent a corrupt¹¹ and ruthless regime," said Mr. Boucher. "We've also requested that these countries take every possible step to respect and protect Iraqi diplomatic property and prevent the destruction of mission records, and to assure that in-country bank accounts belonging to the Iraqi government are frozen."

Mr. Boucher said cables asking U.S. diplomats to make the request to host governments went out from Washington after President Bush announced the start of the war with Iraq late Wednesday.

He said that in addition to seeking the closure of the embassies, the United States is proposing that third-countries be named to look after the consular¹² affairs of Iraqi citizens until the missions can be reopened.

The spokesman declined to discuss reaction to the U.S. overture¹³, but said there was some precedent¹⁴ for the requested closure, citing the suspension of Taleban-appointed ambassadors when that government was ousted from Kabul in late 2001.

David Gollust, VOA news, the State Department.

 

1)    consulate[5kCnsjulit]n.领事, 领事馆, 领事的职位、权力和职责

2)    interim [5intErim]adj.中间的, 临时的, n.中间时期, 过渡时期, 暂定

3)    defiance [di5faiEns]n.挑战, 蔑视, 挑衅

4)    embezzlement [im5bezlmEnt]n.盗用, 侵占, 挪用

1 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。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

4 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》

5 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

6 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

7 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

8 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

9 revoked   

adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It may be revoked if the check is later dishonoured. 以后如支票被拒绝支付，结算可以撤销。 来自辞典例句
• A will is revoked expressly. 遗嘱可以通过明示推翻。 来自辞典例句

10 embezzlement   

n.盗用，贪污

参考例句：

• He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
• The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。

11 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

12 consular   

a.领事的

参考例句：

• He has rounded out twenty years in the consular service. 他在领事馆工作已整整20年了。
• Consular invoices are declarations made at the consulate of the importing country. 领事发票是进口国领事馆签发的一种申报书。

13 overture   

n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉

参考例句：

• The opera was preceded by a short overture.这部歌剧开始前有一段简短的序曲。
• His overture led to nothing.他的提议没有得到什么结果。

14 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。