2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Urges India to Complete Nuclear Agree

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
22 February 2006
 

President Bush  
  
President Bush is urging India to take steps to complete a nuclear energy deal with the United States. The White House wants to have the last details of the agreement worked out before the president's trip to India and Pakistan next week.

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President Bush makes clear he has a full agenda for his first trip to the Indian subcontinent. And he leaves no doubt he wants the nuclear agreement to be the showpiece of his visit to New Delhi. "India and the United States took a bold step forward last summer when we agreed to a civil nuclear initiative that will provide India with access to civilian¹ nuclear technology and bring its civilian programs under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency," he said.

But negotiations² to flesh out this agreement in principle have proven slow and difficult. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns is in India for last-minute talks. And President Bush is making a direct appeal to New Delhi for movement in one key area. "I will continue to encourage India to produce a credible³, transparent⁴ and defensible plan to separate its civilian and military nuclear programs," he said.

That separation is one of the key elements of the deal under which the United States would provide nuclear energy technology in exchange for concrete steps by India to bring its civilian nuclear program into what the president called the international mainstream⁵.

In a speech to the Asia Society, a private group that promotes greater understanding between the United States and Asia, the president stressed growing U.S. ties with India in areas ranging from trade to promoting democracy. He said relations have never been better.

President Bush also spoke⁶ at length about the evolution of America's relationship with Pakistan. He praised Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as a man who took a great personal risk by siding with the United States in the war on terrorism.

He said while Pakistan has a way to go on the path to democracy, it has a free press, numerous political parties and elections scheduled for next year. "The Pakistanis are taking this step toward democracy at a difficult time in their history. There are determined⁷ enemies of freedom attacking from within. We understand the struggles and we understand the pressure and the United States will walk with them on their path to freedom," he said.

The president went on to note he is encouraged by the progress being made in easing longtime tensions between India and Pakistan. He made specific mention of their efforts to resolve the dispute over Kashmir. "I will encourage them to address this important issue. America supports a resolution in Kashmir that is acceptable to both sides," he said.

President Bush said for far too long Kashmir has been a source of violence and distrust between India and Pakistan. He said these two countries now have an historic opportunity to work toward lasting⁸ peace.

1 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。

2 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。

3 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

4 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

5 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

6 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。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。