2006年VOA标准英语-Russia, Iran to Continue Talks on Nuclear

By Lisa McAdams
Moscow
27 February 2006

 
Russian technician works at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, February 26, 2006
  
The head of Russia's Atomic Energy Agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, has returned from from Tehran, saying talks about a compromise to end the crisis over Iran's nuclear program will continue later this week in Moscow.

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An Iranian delegation¹ is expected in Moscow this week for a third round of talks on a compromise proposal for Russia to enrich Iran's uranium. The effort is an attempt to ease western concerns over Iran's nuclear program and to avert² possible punitive³ sanctions against Tehran.

The head of Russia's Atomic Energy Agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, completed three days of, what he called, complicated, difficult negotiations⁴ with Iranian officials in Tehran. Reports coming out of the closed-door talks are sketchy⁵, with no confirmation⁶ that Iran has agreed to suspend enrichment as required by the United States and Europe.

But Kiriyenko told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency he is certain enough time remains⁷ to seal a deal.

Others, like independent expert Vladimir Yevseyev, of Moscow's Carnegie Institute, are not so optimistic. Yevseyev tells VOA he thinks Iran is just stalling for time before the March 6th meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency, during which a decision is expected to be made on possible punitive sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.

"I think really Iranian officials want to continue these negotiations without any decisions and maybe its good for Iran, but it is very bad for the other countries," he said.

Yevseyev says Russia, as the sole moderator, risks losing influence if the talks continue much longer without definitive⁸ word of progress or take a turn for the worse.

"It is a good idea for Russia to stay [with] Iran like a partner," said Yevseyev.  But if Iran will provoke the west, and if Iranian leaders will speak about Israel [and that] it is necessary [for it] to disappear, and speak about passing nuclear technology to other countries, [then] it is very difficult for Russia to stay on the position [of being] like a friend to Iran. Russia's position will be moved to the west."

Independent Military analyst⁹ Alexander Goltz shares Yevseyev's skepticism surrounding continued talks.

"We have example of North Korea, which was extremely successful in organizing absolutely endless talks, which permitted North Korean leaders to practically blackmail¹⁰ world leaders and all international society," said Goltz. "I think Iranian leaders have the same goal. They badly need time."

In Washington, National Security Advisor¹¹ Stephen Hadley reacted cautiously to reports from Tehran of basic agreement on the compromise proposal. Hadley told the U.S. CNN it is necessary to wait and see what happens next.

1 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。

2 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

3 punitive   

adj.惩罚的，刑罚的

参考例句：

• They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
• The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

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 sketchy   

adj.写生的，写生风格的，概略的

参考例句：

• The material he supplied is too sketchy.他提供的材料过于简略。
• Details of what actually happened are still sketchy.对于已发生事实的详细情况知道的仍然有限。

6 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

11 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。