2007年VOA标准英语-India, US Making Last-Ditch Bid on Nuclear Agre

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
19 July 2007

High-level talks between India and the United States are going into an unscheduled third day in Washington in the hopes of overcoming obstacles to a controversial nuclear cooperation agreement. VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.

Indian officials here in New Delhi are expressing cautious optimism about last-ditch talks in Washington to conclude a landmark¹ civil nuclear cooperation deal.

US Under Secretary of State, Nicholas Burns (L) with Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon prior to a June 2007 meeting in New Delhi (File)

The talks are between Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Nicholas Burns, the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and India's national security advisor², M.K. Narayanan, are standing³ by, if needed, to help break the deadlock⁴.

Rice canceled a string of overseas visits to remain in Washington for the discussions.

President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the controversial agreement in principle two years ago. It calls for India to separate its military and civilian⁵ nuclear facilities in exchange for access to nuclear technology and fuel from the U.S.

The deal has faced a series of obstacles - including a U.S. law banning nuclear transfers to India and other nations that have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The U.S. Congress removed that hurdle⁶ last year with special legislation to make an exception for India under certain conditions. But those conditions have created new obstacles.

India objects to U.S. demands it not conduct any more nuclear weapons tests, and to curbs⁷ placed on its reprocessing of nuclear fuel.

Stephen Cohen, a Brookings Institution political analyst⁸, says some prominent Indian political figures argue that these conditions impinge on Indian sovereignty.

"I think the politics on both sides are very difficult," he said. "On the Indian side, you have a group of essentially⁹ retired¹⁰ scientists, and some active scientists, blocking it, who have found their voices amplified¹¹ in the Indian press."

Prime Minister Singh says the talks have entered "their last leg." But when asked by reporters if he believed a deal would be finalized¹² this week, he replied, "I can't say."

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says Washington remains¹³ committed to concluding the agreement.

"And we're sure that the Indian government wants to reach an agreement. The question is the timing¹⁴ of it. When? And there's no time like the present to reach a deal," he said.

If negotiators succeed in breaking the deadlock, the agreement will still need legislative¹⁵ approval in Washington and New Delhi. India would also be required to gain the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

6 hurdle   

n.跳栏，栏架；障碍，困难；vi.进行跨栏赛

参考例句：

• The weather will be the biggest hurdle so I have to be ready.天气将会是最大的障碍，所以我必须要作好准备。
• She clocked 11.6 seconds for the 80 metre hurdle.八十米跳栏赛跑她跑了十一秒六。

7 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

8 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。

9 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 amplified   

放大，扩大( amplify的过去式和过去分词 )； 增强； 详述

参考例句：

• He amplified on his remarks with drawings and figures. 他用图表详细地解释了他的话。
• He amplified the whole course of the incident. 他详述了事件的全过程。

12 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 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。

14 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

15 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。