US Supports Term Limit for IAEA Chief

By Paula Wolfson

The Bush administration says it continues to believe there should be term limits for top U.N. officials. Among those nearing the end of his second term is the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei.

The White House has made no secret of the fact it would like to see the Egyptian diplomat¹ leave the post when his second term expires next year.

A White House spokeswoman says the United States has always supported a two term limit for U.N. organization chiefs. But she declines to comment on reports the U.S. has intercepted² Mohamed ElBaradei's telephone calls in a search for evidence that could be used against him.

When pressed by reporters, spokeswoman Suzy DeFrances, would go no further than a brief statement on the term limit issue. She said only that the Bush administration does not comment on intelligence matters.

The news media inquiries³ were prompted by a Washington Post article that alleged⁴ the Bush administration is scrutinizing⁵ Mr. ElBaradei's conversations with Iranian diplomats⁶. The article quotes unnamed U.S. government officials as saying calls have been intercepted and transcripts⁷ studied in hopes of convincing other countries the nuclear agency chief should retire.

These officials indicate they found no evidence of wrongdoing. Some said the calls sounded like he was being too soft on the Iranians, while others described the conversations as standard diplomacy⁸.

Tensions between Mohamed ElBaradei and the Bush administration pre-date the war in Iraq, when he questioned U.S. intelligence. During an appearance on CNN's Late Edition program, the top Democrat⁹ on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Delaware's Joseph Biden, said he has confidence in the IAEA's director general. "I have found him to be a pretty straight shooter. He hasn't given the administration what he wanted to hear. He turned out to be right about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction."

Senator Biden went on to say he agrees with the White House that Mr. ElBaradei has not moved fast enough on Iran's nuclear intentions. He said he cannot confirm any wiretaps have occurred, but urged the Bush administration not to follow that path.

Paula Wolfson, VOA news, the White House.

注释：
International Atomic Energy Agency 国际原子能组织
intercept 阻止，截取
scrutinize 细看，仔细检查
wiretap 窃听，偷录

 

1 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。

2 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

3 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

5 scrutinizing   

v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His grandfather's stern eyes were scrutinizing him, and Chueh-hui felt his face reddening. 祖父的严厉的眼光射在他的脸上。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• The machine hushed, extraction and injection nozzles poised, scrutinizing its targets. 机器“嘘”地一声静了下来，输入输出管道各就各位，检查着它的目标。 来自互联网

6 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》

7 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句

8 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

9 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。