2006年VOA标准英语-Security Council Diplomats Continue Meetin

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
05 May 2006

Iran's top United Nations diplomat¹ has accused Western powers on the Security Council of provoking a crisis over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Council diplomats² are working overtime³ on a legally-binding⁴ measure that would require suspension of Iran's uranium enrichment work.

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Iran's U.N. Ambassador Javad Zarif Thursday charged that a British-French draft Security Council resolution requiring Tehran to halt uranium enrichment is aimed at creating an artificial crisis.

The draft resolution introduced a day earlier and backed by the United States would carry the force of law under Chapter Seven of the U.N. Charter. It demands that Iran suspend "all enrichment related and reprocessing activities", and halt construction of a so-called "heavy water" nuclear reactor⁵.

As the five veto-wielding Council powers met to discuss the language of the text, the Iranian envoy⁶ described it as confrontational⁸. "If anything, this draft indicates the intention of those who drafted it to create a crisis where a crisis is not needed, to create an atmosphere of tension which our region does not need, and which can be avoided simply by allowing serious reasonable sober discussions on valid⁹ proposals," he said.

The Iranian envoy said if the draft is an attempt to get Tehran to agree to cooperate, it is "not a good one." He said Iran does not respond well to threats and intimidation¹⁰.

He noted¹¹ that his country had suspended uranium enrichment for two years during negotiations¹² with Britain, France and Germany. Those talks eventually proved fruitless.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton denied the proposed resolution was an attempt to provoke a confrontation⁷. He called the draft a straightforward¹³ measure consistent with a previous Security Council statement in March, and earlier resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency. "It requires a strategic decision by Iran to give up the pursuit of nuclear weapons. They do that, they have a possibility of living in a different kind of world. If they don't do that, then we have to consider what next to do in the Council," he said.

Bolton said negotiations are proceeding¹⁴ at a feverish¹⁵ pace in hopes a resolution could be adopted by Monday. That is when the foreign ministers of the five permanent Council members plus Germany meet in New York for what is called an Iran "strategy session".

Russia and China have expressed reservations about making the resolution legally binding under Chapter Seven of the charter. But Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya suggested Thursday that Beijing might accept a narrowly-worded resolution. "I'm not sure if we can work successfully, constructively¹⁶, we will be ready. We will see how this text could be improved," he said.

Groups of Security Council diplomats have scheduled at least two meetings Friday to discuss the Iran draft, and have signaled they would work through the weekend in hopes of agreeing on language acceptable to all members by the time the foreign ministers arrive on Monday.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

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 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

4 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

5 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

6 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。

7 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

8 confrontational   

adj.挑衅的；对抗的

参考例句：

• Fans love rappers partly because they strike such a confrontational pose. 乐迷热爱这些饶舌艺人一定程度上是因为他们所采取的那种战斗姿态。 来自互联网
• You prefer a non confrontational approach when it comes to resolving disputes. 面对争端，你不喜欢采用对抗性的手段来解决。 来自互联网

9 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

10 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

11 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。

12 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。

13 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

14 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

15 feverish   

adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的

参考例句：

• He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
• They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。

16 constructively   

ad.有益的，积极的

参考例句：

• Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom. 如此富有意义地利用业余时间来进行收藏，会使人怡然自得，无暇烦恼。
• The HKSAR will continue to participate constructively in these activities. 香港会继续积极参与这些活动。