2006年VOA标准英语-Planned European-Iranian Meeting Does Not Dissu

By Gary Thomas
Washington
08 September 2006

watch Iran Sanction report

European and Iranian officials are to meet Saturday to discuss the simmering nuclear issue. The United States, however, plans to continue to push for sanctions against Iran. As VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports from London, there is still no agreement on what kind of sanctions.

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Ali Larijani (file photo)   
  
European foreign policy chief Javier Solana is scheduled to meet with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani Saturday at an undisclosed location. Talks between the two had been in the cards for several days, but have been repeatedly postponed¹.

The talks are seen as a European attempt to salvage² any negotiations³ on the nuclear issue, after Iran failed to meet a U.N. Security Council deadline to suspend uranium enrichment by August 31.

Officials from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany met in Berlin Thursday to map out strategy on the Iranian nuclear issue.

The six nations, with the United States in the lead, believe Iran is embarked⁴ on a path to nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied the allegation, and says it only seeks peaceful nuclear energy, which it is entitled to do under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

During an official visit to Cairo Thursday, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett expressed frustration⁵ at the failure to get negotiations with Iran moving again.

"We believe that there is a solution to these problems, which can be acceptable and welcome to the whole international community and could be carried out through peaceful negotiations," she said. "But it can't be carried out through peaceful negotiations, if people won't negotiate."
 

Nicholas Burns  
  
But before the United States will negotiate with Iran, officials want Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program. Since Iran has refused, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns says the United States will push for sanctions in the Security Council.

"It is the view of the United States, that, as Iran is not in compliance⁶, that Iran has been given three months to suspend its nuclear program, but hasn't done so, that we must now go to the United Nations, and pass a sanctions resolution," he said.

Burns told a Berlin research institute on Friday that the United States wants to settle down to drafting a sanctions resolution next week.

There is no consensus⁷, however, on the kind of sanctions, or how strong they should be. Russia and China, in particular, have business interests in Iran and are reluctant to impose any significant punishment. France appears to be wavering on any rush to sanctions.

Nicholas Burns acknowledged that the question of sanctions is a "complex issue" and that time is needed to reach agreement.

Many analysts⁸ believe Iran is trying to exploit rifts⁹ in the international community to keep its nuclear enrichment program going as long as possible.

1 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

2 salvage   

v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救

参考例句：

• All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.抢救失事船只的一切努力都失败了。
• The salvage was piled upon the pier.抢救出的财产被堆放在码头上。

3 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。

4 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

5 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

6 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

7 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 rifts   

n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和

参考例句：

• After that, through the rifts in the inky clouds sparkled redder and yet more luminous particles. 然后在几条墨蓝色云霞的隙缝里闪出几个更红更亮的小片。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
• The Destinies mend rifts in time as man etches fate. 当人类想要再次亵渎命运的时候，命运及时修正了这些裂痕。 来自互联网