2006年VOA标准英语-Talking to Iran and Syria - Will It Work and At

By Sonja Pace
London
22 November 2006

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, left, listens as Iraq's Foreign Affairs Minister Hoshyar Zebari talks during a media conference in Baghdad Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Iran and Syria are sending signals they are ready to play a larger role in curbing¹ the continuing violence in Iraq. Tehran has invited Iraq and Syria to a summit conference and, at the same time, Iraq and Syria have renewed diplomatic relations after a nearly quarter-century break. Some experts consider the moves positive, while others remain skeptical². But pressure is increasing for the United States to talk to Iran and Syria about Iraq.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters in Geneva this week that Iran and Syria could play a positive role to help stabilize³ the extremely violent situation in Iraq and has urged them to do so. The United States remains⁴ skeptical that either Damascus or Tehran really wants to help and instead the Bush Administration has repeatedly accused both of unhelpful interference and of supporting terrorism and violence.

Tuesday's assassination⁵ in Beirut of prominent Lebanese Christian⁶ leader and cabinet minister, Pierre Gemayel is likely to strengthen Washington's argument. Some Lebanese officials quickly accused Syria of having a hand in the assassination, just as Damascus has been implicated⁷ in the killing⁸ last year of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Still, there is increasing pressure for Washington to talk with Syria and with Iran - especially about the deteriorating⁹ situation in Iraq.

Speaking on British radio, former British ambassador to Washington, Christopher Meyer said such a dialogue makes sense.

 

"There is only one question you ask in this - do they [Syria and Iran] influence what is going on in Iraq or do they not influence what is going on in Iraq," he said. "If the answer is yes, somehow you engage with them. Sticks and carrots - it may work, it may not. But, just to turn your back on them is rank silliness."

The Bush administration says dialogue is possible, but only if Iran and Syria change their ways. The U.S. wants Tehran to halt its nuclear program, stop allowing fighters and weapons to cross over into Iraq and stop supporting what Washington considers terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The administration wants Syria to also halt support of terror groups and stop what Washington says is Damascus' continued interference in Lebanon.

Syrian officials have repeatedly said they seek a dialogue with the United States and Syrian cabinet minister Buthayna Shaaban recently repeated the offer, but also sought to put the onus¹⁰ on Washington.

"Syria continues to believe in talking, but of course never accepted conditions either to talk or to do anything and the American administration knows this," said Shaaban.

Syria has repeatedly denied stirring up trouble in Lebanon, having a hand in assassinations¹¹ there or supporting terrorist groups.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also said he's ready to talk to the United States.

At a recent news conference in Tehran, President Ahmadinejad said the current state of relations between Iran and the United States is the fault of the U.S. - because of America's behavior, as he put it, adding if they correct their behavior, we will negotiate with them.

Iranian political analyst¹², Meir Javedanfar tells VOA dialogue would certainly be good - for Iran, but he warns it comes as a price.

"One of the biggest reasons why Iran got involved in Iraq in the first place was so that it has a bargaining chip. What they want for calm in Iraq is that the British and Americans allow Iran to continue with its enrichment program, to stop threatening Iran at the U.N.," said Javedanfar. "And, I'm not sure that Tony Blair or President Bush are prepared to pay that price, but as far as the Iranians are concerned, they want a deal, they've been looking for a deal for a long time."

Javendanfar is director of Meepas, a Tel Aviv-based Web site analyzing¹³ Middle East economic and political affairs.

Javedanfar says the United States and Britain must increase their bargaining pressure by threatening targeted sanctions against Iran's leadership, but also by offering economic incentives¹⁴ for Iran to lower its own demands for coming to the bargaining table.

Talking to Iran and Syria is expected to be among the proposals outlined in the U.S. Iraq Study Group report, which is due to be made public next month.

1 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

2 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

3 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

6 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

9 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

10 onus   

n.负担；责任

参考例句：

• The onus is on government departments to show cause why information cannot bedisclosed.政府部门有责任说明不能把信息公开的理由。
• The onus of proof lies with you.你有责任提供证据。

11 assassinations   

n.暗杀( assassination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Most anarchist assassinations were bungled because of haste or spontaneity, in his view. 在他看来，无政府主义者搞的许多刺杀都没成功就是因为匆忙和自发行动。 来自辞典例句
• Assassinations by Israelis of alleged terrorists habitually kill nearby women and children. 在以色列，自称恐怖分子的炸弹自杀者杀害靠近自己的以色列妇女和儿童。 来自互联网

12 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

13 analyzing   

v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析

参考例句：

• Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。 来自辞典例句
• He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。 来自辞典例句

14 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法