VOA常速英语2008年-Diplomats: No Vote on New Iran Sanctions Before

By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
29 February 2008

Members of the U.N. Security Council say a vote on a new resolution imposing¹ a third round of sanctions against Iran for its controversial nuclear program will probably not happen before Saturday. Western diplomats² had hoped to pass the resolution before the end of February. From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

The co-sponsors of the draft resolution, Britain and France, called a meeting Thursday afternoon of the Security Council hoping to finalize³ the text of the resolution. But lack of consensus⁴ among some of the 10 non-permanent council members has delayed that until at least Friday. Diplomats say a vote could likely follow on Saturday.

Britain's U.N. Ambassador, John Sawers, told reporters that had a vote taken place Thursday the resolution would have passed.

"Had we put it to a vote today, the resolution would clearly have passed, but we want to have as much support as is possible. One delegation⁵ has suggested some small amendments⁶ that we are reflecting upon; another delegation is considering whether to ask for a meeting with us tomorrow morning to address any concerns that it might have, and we have made clear we are prepared to go the extra mile to do that," he said.

All five veto-wielding council members are on board with the text, and the measure is certain to have enough support to pass. But Ambassador Sawers noted⁷ that there is an important political element to the measure, and that the wider the base of support for the resolution, the clearer the political signal that is sent to Tehran.

In two previous sanctions resolutions, the security council has demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium, but Tehran has not complied and says it is its legal right to continue enriching uranium for peaceful purposes. Many countries fear Iran's actions are intended for the production of nuclear bombs, not energy.

Four non-permanent council members have expressed concern about the resolution--Libya, Indonesia, South Africa and Vietnam.

Indonesian Ambassador Marty Natalegawa said after the meeting that Jakarta is yet to be convinced that more sanctions are the best way to go right now. "We have been told that additional steps are only incremental⁸, they are minor⁹, they are symbolic¹⁰, they are messages. Then if that's the case, then why do we bother? Why are we risking Security Council unity¹¹ for steps some of the co-sponsors are saying are only minor and only incremental and only symbolic?," he said.

Last week, the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report that Iran has made progress in providing information about its nuclear program, but not enough to prove it is developing its nuclear program solely¹² for peaceful purposes.

1 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

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 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

4 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

5 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

6 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 incremental   

adj.增加的

参考例句：

• For logic devices, the incremental current gain is very important. 对于逻辑器件来说，提高电流增益是非常重要的。 来自辞典例句
• By using an incremental approach, the problems involving material or geometric nonlinearity have been solved. 借应用一种增量方法，已经解决了包括材料的或几何的非线性问题。 来自辞典例句

9 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

10 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

11 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

12 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。