2006年VOA标准英语-World Powers Report Progress in Meeting on

By David Gollust
State Department
24 May 2006

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reported progress Wednesday in London talks among senior diplomats¹ of the five permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany on a strategy for dealing² with Iran's nuclear program. But she said more talks will be needed, perhaps at the ministerial level.

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Interactive³ Map of Iran Nuclear Installations   
  

The major powers are hoping to be able to present Iran soon with a package of incentives⁴ for ending nuclear activities the United States believes are weapons-related, and a defined program of punitive⁵ actions if it refuses.

But Secretary Rice acknowledges that a closed door meeting of the so-called P-Five Plus One grouping in London ended without an agreement, and that further talks will be needed after outstanding issues are discussed in the respective capitals.

 
Condoleezza Rice (r) with Mohamed el Baradei at the U.S. State Department
  
The Secretary of State discussed the results of the London meeting at a joint⁶ press appearance with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed el Baradei.

'We did not expect that they were going to finalize⁷ all matters, and I think they are still working on some matters," said Condoleezza Rice. "But as I understand it - I did talk with Undersecretary [Nicholas] Burns - that it was a very good exchange between the P-Five Plus One and I believe they are now prepared to talk about the progress that they've made, and perhaps to return these ideas to capitals for further consideration. And I've understood that there's some consideration that the [foreign] ministers may meet soon as well."

Neither Rice nor her key aides were specific about the problem issues in the talks.

But going into the meeting, Russia and China were resisting calls by the United States and its European allies for a binding⁸ Security Council resolution that would threaten sanctions against Iran and be enforceable by possible military action.

IAEA chief el Baradei is understood to support a direct U.S. nuclear dialogue with Iran instead of the Bush administration's current approach of working through Britain, France and Germany.

However in the appearance with Rice, elBaradei said the format⁹ of talks was for the United States to decide, and that his role was as an honest broker¹⁰ in pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear crisis.

"I believe that it's very important for Iran to take whatever measures are required for the international community to have confidence that its program is peaceful in nature," said Mohamed el Baradei. "I believe also it's very important that Iran goes back into the negotiations¹¹, to the negotiating table with the Europeans."

El Baradei said he discussed the situation a few days ago with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, and had conveyed Iranian views on how to resolve the crisis to Secretary Rice.

Earlier Wednesday the State Department confirmed that Iran had recently passed word of its interest in direct talks with the United States to U.S. officials through diplomatic channels.

A spokesman said the Iranian soundings show that Teheran is feeling international pressure and that the United States will stick to its indirect negotiating stance.

He also said there are no plans for a formal U.S. reply to the letter to President Bush by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier this month, despite news reports that some policy experts within the U.S. government are urging a response.

1 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》

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

4 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

5 punitive   

adj.惩罚的，刑罚的

参考例句：

• They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
• The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

8 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

9 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

10 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

11 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。