2007年VOA标准英语-Britain Presses Demand for Sailors' Release in

By Sonja Pace
London
29 March 2007

Britain is pressing its demand for the immediate¹ release of 15 sailors and marines, seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces last Friday, while Tehran is warning of delays and says an apology would help speed up the process. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London on the diplomatic standoff.

 
Image reported to be of British sailor Faye Turney shown on Iranian TV
A day after British officials went public with demands and details of last Friday's seizure² of 15 Royal Navy sailors and marines, the diplomatic standoff between London and Tehran continues.

British Foreign Office spokesman Barry Marston tells VOA the government's demands have not changed.

"It is a matter of time, but the only solution is for Iran to unconditionally³ release all of these 15 sailors," he said.

 
Ali Larijani
There is no indication at this point Iran is ready to comply. On Thursday, senior Iranian government member Ali Larijani dashed hopes that the only woman sailor in the group would soon be released. Larijani hinted at delays and warned that British threats could result in the case taking a legal path, meaning presumably the naval⁴ crew could face trial in Iran.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair made clear his government was stepping up the pressure.

 
Tony Blair 
"It is now time to ratchet up the diplomatic and international pressure in order to make sure the Iranian government understands their total isolation⁵ on this issue," he said.

As part of that campaign, a senior British military official released map coordinates⁶ of the sailors' location, showing, he said, that that they were in Iraqi, not Iranian territorial⁷ waters when they were seized.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett announced that Britain would freeze all bilateral⁸ dealings with Iran, except those pertaining⁹ to gaining the sailors' release.

But there has also been quiet diplomacy¹⁰ - directly with Iranian officials as well as with Gulf¹¹ states, Turkey, European partners - as British officials explain, with anyone who might have some influence on Iran. And discussions are under way about taking the issue to the U.N. Security Council.

"There's a whole number of further things we can be doing," said Foreign Office spokesman Barry Marston. "As I say though, we see no need to escalate¹² or ratchet up the climate of this issue. We would like this to be resolved as simply as possible."

Iranian officials have said an apology from Britain for straying into Iranian waters could help resolve the crisis. However, an apology is not likely. British officials continue to insist their boats and crew were in Iraqi waters. But Iran insisted again on Thursday they had strayed into Iranian waters.

1 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

2 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

3 unconditionally   

adv.无条件地

参考例句：

• All foreign troops must be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally. 所有外国军队必须立即无条件地撤出。
• It makes things very awkward to have your girls going back unconditionally just now! 你们现在是无条件上工，真糟糕！ 来自子夜部分

4 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

5 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。

6 coordinates   

n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• The town coordinates on this map are 695037. 该镇在这幅地图上的坐标是695037。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

8 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

9 pertaining   

与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to)

参考例句：

• Living conditions are vastly different from those pertaining in their country of origin. 生活条件与他们祖国大不相同。
• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school. 视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。

10 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。

11 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

12 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。