2006年VOA标准英语-EU Official in Tehran to Present Nuclear I

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
05 June 2006

Javier Solana (File photo)
  
  
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has arrived in Tehran, with the latest set of western incentives² for Iran to abandon its nuclear program. Brussels hopes to keep pressuring the Iranians, through dialogue.

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It is unclear just what carrots Javier Solana will propose to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear fuel program. Experts say it may include offering Iran nuclear reactors³ along with special commercial incentives.

 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
  
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad previously⁴ appeared to have already dismissed the offer, out of hand. Iran also threatens to disrupt its oil exports, as a weapon in the standoff.

But there are also some encouraging developments. The Bush administration says it may be willing to enter into talks with Tehran. And, on Saturday, Mr. Ahmadinejad welcomed talks with Washington and with the five other nations involved in the dispute. He suggested a breakthrough might be possible.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful, energy purposes and argues it has the right to develop it. But the West fears Tehran aims to develop a nuclear weapon.

Daniel Keohane, a senior research fellow at the Center for European Reform in London, says Mr. Solana's trip is as much about dialogue than about the incentive¹ package itself.

"The first point is to keep the pressure on the Iranians," said Keohane. "The U.S. has basically made it clear it wants dialogue. Up until then, the Iranians had been complaining that the Americans weren't interested in dialogue. So Solana is trying to keep the pressure on the Iranians to try and be constructive⁵."

Keohane says the U.S. offer for talks has strengthened the Europeans hand as it pushes for negotiations⁶ to end the dispute. The offer also pressures two other parties in the talks, Russia and China, to be more flexible in dealing⁷ with Iran. Both countries have been reluctant about imposing United Nations sanctions, if Tehran does not give up its nuclear program

1 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

2 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

3 reactors   

起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆

参考例句：

• The TMI nuclear facility has two reactors. 三哩岛核设施有两个反应堆。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The earliest production reactors necessarily used normal uranium as fuel. 最早为生产用的反应堆，必须使用普通铀作为燃料。

4 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

5 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

6 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。

7 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。