VOA标准英语2009-Clinton: Naval Clash Won't Stop Outreach to

By David Gollust
Singapore
11 November 2009
 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addresses a press conference after attending APEC ministerial meetings in Singapore, 11 Nov 2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Tuesday's naval¹ clash between North and South Korea will not derail plans to send a U.S. envoy² to North Korea to try to revive nuclear negotiations⁴. Clinton discussed North Korea diplomacy⁵ in meetings with fellow foreign ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum⁶.

The clash over the disputed sea boundary between the two Koreas left patrol vessels⁷ from both sides damaged and inflamed⁸ military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

But Secretary Clinton says it is not going to halt an Obama administration effort to get the Chinese-sponsored six-party talks in North Korea's nuclear program going again.

A U.S. announcement Tuesday that special envoy Stephen Bosworth will visit Pyongyang before the end of the year nearly coincided with reports of the naval skirmish, the first of its kind in several years.

It prompted urgent consultations⁹ between Clinton's traveling party and officials in Washington and was an issue in the Secretary's day-long set of meetings at the APEC forum, including a bilateral¹⁰ meeting late Wednesday with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Appealing for restraint at a news conference, Clinton said she was encouraged by the calm reaction to the naval encounter and said plans for the long-anticipated Bosworth mission are going forward.

"This does not in any way affect our decision to send Ambassador Bosworth," Clinton said. "We think that is an important step that stands on its own. It is connected to our efforts, along with our six-party partners, to move towards resumption of the six-party process. We think that is critically important. So we are certainly counseling calm and caution."

Clinton said Bosworth's mission to Pyongyang will not be a negotiation³ but rather an effort to pave the way for North Korea's return to the six-party process.

North Korea agreed in principle in 2005 to scrap¹¹ its nuclear program in return for aid and diplomatic benefits from the other participants, the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea and host China.

But negotiations broke down last year over Pyongyang's refusal to accept a verification plan for the declaration it made of it nuclear holdings and activities.

Clinton said APEC colleagues supported the decision to send Bosworth, and that while in North Korea he would press for adherence¹² to the terms of the 2005 agreement and its goal of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. 

1 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。

2 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

3 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

4 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。

5 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。

6 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

7 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 inflamed   

adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His comments have inflamed teachers all over the country. 他的评论激怒了全国教师。
• Her joints are severely inflamed. 她的关节严重发炎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 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。

11 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

12 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。