VOA标准英语2008年-US Warns Time Running Out for India-US Nuclear

A senior U.S. Congressman¹ visiting India says time is running out for New Delhi to finalize² a civilian³ nuclear deal with the United States. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi that India's Congress Party-led coalition⁴ government indicated it will press ahead with the pact⁵, despite strong opposition⁶ from its left-wing allies.
　
Gary Ackerman (file photo)

After holding talks with senior Indian officials in New Delhi, U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman said there is very little time left for New Delhi to seal a civilian nuclear energy pact with the present administration in the United States.

The civilian nuclear accord signed in 2006 would allow India access to civilian nuclear technology, even though it has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

But India still needs approvals from the International Atomic Energy Agency and a waiver from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group before the pact can go to the U.S. Congress.

Congressman Ackerman, who is chairman of the House of Representatives committee on South and West Asia, says time is getting shorter.

"We will in all likelihood adjourn⁷ in September for the rest of the year," he said. "My concern is with the calendar running as quickly as it is, it [nuke deal] now needs a go ahead signal from an international agency, approval by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and we do not know that can we done before September."

In New Delhi, the Congress Party is making frantic⁸ efforts to salvage⁹ the pact.

The pact has been in virtual limbo¹⁰ due to opposition from the government's communist allies, who say it will compromise India's sovereignty.

But in recent days, Congress Party officials have indicated that New Delhi will go ahead and negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, despite repeated warnings by the communists that such a step will prompt them to withdraw support.

The Congress Party has been in talks with a small party, the Samajwadi Party - and is hoping to gets its support in parliament if left parties walk out of the coalition.

The Samajwadi Party has made no commitments, saying it wants to get expert opinion on the merits of the deal.

The prime minister says the deal is needed to safeguard India's energy security and ensure fuel supplies for its growing economy.

The nuclear pact is seen as a landmark¹¹ accord, that if finalized¹², will bring New Delhi closer to Washington and become the centerpiece of a new strategic relationship between the two countries.

 

1 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

6 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。

7 adjourn   

v.（使）休会，（使）休庭

参考例句：

• The motion to adjourn was carried.休会的提议通过了。
• I am afraid the court may not adjourn until three or even later.我担心法庭要到3点或更晚时才会休庭。

8 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。

9 salvage   

v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救

参考例句：

• All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.抢救失事船只的一切努力都失败了。
• The salvage was piled upon the pier.抢救出的财产被堆放在码头上。

10 limbo   

n.地狱的边缘；监狱

参考例句：

• His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地，进退两难。
• I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死，感觉自己茫然无措。

11 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

12 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》