VOA标准英语2009年-US, Other Major Powers Propose Early Meeti

The United States, the four other permanent U.N. Security Council member countries and Germany are seeking an early meeting with Iran to explore that country's willingness to negotiate over its nuclear program. The decision Friday follows an Iranian overture¹ for talks made to the so-called "P5+1" grouping earlier this week.
　
An Iranian technician works at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion² Facilities (UCF), 420 kms south of Tehran (File)

The broadly worded Iranian overture did not address concerns about the country's nuclear program, and officials of President Barack Obama's administration say that is disappointing.

But the United States is nonetheless joining its P5+1 partners in accepting the Iranian invitation, in order to test Iran's willingness to engage in meaningful talks on its nuclear program.

European Union chief diplomat³ Javier Solana, who has represented the P5+1 in dealings with Iran, has contacted the office of Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to arrange a meeting.

U.S. officials hope it can be convened⁴ before key big-power discussions of the Iranian nuclear issue begin in New York during the third week of this month, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session.

At a news briefing, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley said the United States would take part in any meeting arranged by Solana. It would be a rare-face-to-face encounter between diplomats⁵ of the two countries, which have not had formal relations in 30 years.

Crowley said the fact that diplomatic note from Tehran did not address concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions is one reason why an exploratory meeting with the Iranians is so important.

"Clearly the Iranian paper does not reply to these concerns," he said. "It does not cover the nuclear issue. That's precisely⁶ why we think we need an early meeting. We're not interested in talking for talking's sake."

"We're looking to see through an early meeting, should Iran be willing, we'd be looking to see if they are willing to engage seriously on these issues - but within the context of the P5+1 - the full range of issues that we have among these countries and Iran," he added.

Crowley said the Obama administration wants the meeting - presumably at the level of Foreign Ministry⁷ political directors - to be held as soon as possible, so that P5+1 leaders can assess Iran's readiness to deal with the nuclear issue in their discussions at the United Nations.

He indicated the administration intends to make an assessment⁸ by year's end as to whether a diplomatic resolution of the nuclear issue is possible.

While Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, the United States and European allies believe Tehran is seeking a weapons capability⁹.

In April, the P5+1 offered Iran a revised package of incentives¹⁰ for it to halt uranium enrichment and return to negotiations¹¹ over its nuclear program. However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said earlier this week that Iran will not stop the enrichment drive, and considers the matter closed.

A senior U.S. official who spoke¹² to reporters said Iran had sent diplomatic signals that it would respond to the P5+1 offer after its June presidential elections, and that post-election political "mayhem" in that country was probably behind the delay.

The official declined to call the envisaged¹³ meeting a last chance for Tehran. But if the Tehran government chooses not to engage on the nuclear issue, he said, that would put the United States in a stronger position to seek "other ways" of applying pressure on Iran.

1 overture   

n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉

参考例句：

• The opera was preceded by a short overture.这部歌剧开始前有一段简短的序曲。
• His overture led to nothing.他的提议没有得到什么结果。

2 conversion   

n.转化，转换，转变

参考例句：

• He underwent quite a conversion.他彻底变了。
• Waste conversion is a part of the production process.废物处理是生产过程的一个组成部分。

3 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

4 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

5 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》

6 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

9 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

10 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

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。

12 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

13 envisaged   

想像，设想( envisage的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He envisaged an old age of loneliness and poverty. 他面对着一个孤独而贫困的晚年。
• Henry Ford envisaged an important future for the motor car. 亨利·福特为汽车设想了一个远大前程。