2006年VOA标准英语-Russia Calls on Iran to Answer Concerns Ab

By Bill Gasperini
Moscow
05 February 2006

 
Russia's Defense¹ Minister Sergei Ivanov
  
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov is urging Iran to provide answers about its nuclear program in order to allay² international concerns. He says Russia will continue seeking a diplomatic solution to the stand-off over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

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Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov says the international community expects unequivocal answers from Iran about its nuclear program to questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency. On Saturday, the agency voted to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council.

In a speech at a security conference in Munich, Germany, Sergei Ivanov said he believes the dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions can be resolved diplomatically.

Russia has long been assisting Tehran in what both countries say is a peaceful quest to develop nuclear energy.

On Saturday, Russia backed the IAEA decision to refer the matter to the U.N. Security Council.

However both Russia and China - two of the permanent members of the Security Council - continue to oppose sanctions, saying these are unlikely to pressure Iran into halting its nuclear program.

At the Munich conference, Ivanov said the IAEA should continue to monitor developments in Iran.

"Russia still believes that, as long as possible, it is better to keep the matter in the agency's hands, I mean International Atomic Agency hands," he said.

Ivanov went on to say tougher action might lead Iran to expel IAEA inspectors³ from the country, something he says would be counter-productive.

He repeated Moscow's offer to enrich Iranian uranium in Russia to prevent it from being converted for weapons use.

Ivanov said that offer is still open. Iranian officials are due to come to Moscow on February 16 for more talks on the proposal, and, on Sunday, Iran suggested it was still open to those talks.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

3 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》