VOA常速英语2007-Kissinger Calls for Dialogue Between US, Iran

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
30 October 2007

A former U.S. secretary of state is urging his government to open talks with Iran over its nuclear programs. Henry Kissinger, who made the comments in a New Delhi, is regarded as a hardliner when it comes to U.S. security interests. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from the Indian capital.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger calls on Washington to negotiate with Tehran concerning the suspected Iranian program to develop nuclear weapons.

"If there are any representatives of the American Embassy here they may be unhappy with me," he said. "I personally believe that America should be prepared to negotiate with Iran on that subject."

In a speech in New Delhi Tuesday, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate added that the international community has an obligation, if Iran agrees to talks, to prevent the danger of nuclear proliferation.

The United States, France and Britain favor tougher sanctions if Tehran does not comply with United Nations demands to halt certain nuclear activities. China and Russia oppose sanctions.

Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the U.S. and other governments accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon.

Kissinger, who served as secretary of state in the Nixon and Ford¹ administrations, told business leaders and diplomats² that his visit to India is not connected to a controversial India-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement.

However, on Monday, he met with the leader of the opposition³ Bharatiya Janata Party, and, according to news reports, he said that if India's parliament rejects the deal, then India's trustworthiness could be questioned.

Indian opposition parties and groups allied⁴ with the ruling coalition⁵ oppose the agreement, saying it violates Indian sovereignty or ties the country too closely to the United States.

Kissinger on Tuesday said delaying approval in India could mean that the deal will face more opposition in Washington after the U.S. elections next year.

"Certainly people who are opposed to the present agreement in the United States are likely to be better organized two years from now when it comes up again," added Kissinger.

The agreement would end years of international isolation⁶ for India's nuclear industry, imposed because the country developed and tested nuclear weapons.

Opposition parties in India want to revise the deal, but the U.S. government has ruled out renegotiating.

1 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

2 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》

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。