2006年VOA标准英语-Iran Grabs Spotlight as Developing Nations

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
09 May 2006

The dispute over Iran's nuclear program is overshadowing the fifth summit of the Developing Eight, a forum¹ for eight large predominately Muslim economies. The Iranian president is arriving for a state visit in Indonesia, where officials are offering to help mediate² the nuclear dispute between Tehran and the United Nations.

-----------------------------------------------------

 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is welcomed by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda (r)   
  

Even before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Jakarta Tuesday, Indonesian officials made it clear that they support Iran's right to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful uses. Jakarta, however, opposes nuclear weapons proliferation.

Foreign Ministry³ spokesman Yuri Thamrin says Indonesia is willing to help mediate with the West over Iran's nuclear program. Indonesia, a secular⁴ nation with the world's largest Muslim population, enjoys good relations with both the United States and Iran.

"We are going to do whatever we can in terms of possibility to help in this regard … as you know we are one of the biggest Muslim country," he said. "We have good will in terms of trying to resolve international conflict."

President Ahmadinejad makes a state visit to Indonesia before heading to Bali Friday for the summit of the Developing Eight nations.

His trip comes as foreign ministers from Britain, Germany, France, China, and Russia and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discuss getting a Security Council resolution that demands Iran end its uranium enrichment program and return to negotiations⁵ on its nuclear programs. The United States and other governments fear Tehran seeks to build nuclear weapons.

Indonesia's foreign minister said Tuesday Iran should be more transparent⁶ in its nuclear program and fulfill⁷ the standards required by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The IAEA says Iran is not cooperating with its efforts to determine if the country's nuclear program is for creating energy or for making nuclear bombs.

The Developing Eight, or D-8, is a group of eight developing nations whose populations are mostly Muslim.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yuri Thamrin says the summit will be a venue⁸ to boost trade and cooperation among the members.

"D-8 is really a grouping of [the] biggest economy within Islamic world, who are trying to get together in terms of identifying possibility - concrete cooperation for their respective development, and of course we are going to explore as much as possible concrete area for mutually beneficial cooperatio," said Yuri Thamrin.

Officials from the eight countries - Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt and Nigeria - have started preparatory meetings for the D-8 summit in Bali. The heads of state of the countries will begin their meeting on Friday.

1 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。

2 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

5 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。

6 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

7 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

8 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。