2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Says Diplomacy Best Option for Dealin

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
09 May 2006

President Bush says he thinks diplomacy¹ is the first and most important option in dealing² with Iran's nuclear ambitions.  Mr. Bush was asked about the dispute during a trip to the state of Florida.

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President Bush speaks to a group of senior citizens about Medicare prescription³ drug coverage⁴ Tuesday morning May 9, 2006 in Sun City Center, Fla.
  

The focus of the trip was supposed to be health care for the elderly.   But when senior citizens got a chance to ask questions, they asked about Iran.

The president told them the goal is to prevent Iran from using its nuclear program to develop atomic weapons.  He said in the case of Iraq, diplomacy failed to bring Saddam Hussein in compliance⁵ with international demands.  But he said this time, diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute may succeed.

"The first choice and a choice that I think will work with the Iranians is diplomacy," Mr. Bush says. "And I believe we can accomplish this through diplomacy."

He made the remarks at a time when members of the United Nations Security Council are struggling to find the best way to put pressure on Iran, with China and Russia resisting calls for economic sanctions.

The president said he would not negotiate in public, and would let the diplomats⁶ do their work in private.   But he made clear, while there are differences in strategy, they all agree the overall aim is to prevent Iran from getting nuclear arms.

"The first step toward good diplomacy is to have different countries agree on a common goal, which is that the Iranians should not have the capacity and-or nuclear weapons," Mr. Bush says.

Mr. Bush said through hard work, the countries dealing with the Iran nuclear issue will remain bound together.  He said they all recognize the danger inherent in a nuclear-armed Iran.  He said they understand the consequences, and added Tehran must understand the consequences of its continued defiance⁷.

 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 
  
"It's very important for the Iranians to know they will be isolated⁸ in the world," Mr. Bush says. "The rest of the world, much of the world, shares the same demands that those of us involved in negotiations⁹ say."

The president made no mention of the letter, relayed to him Monday by the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  The 18-page letter has many criticisms of the Bush administration, but does not refer directly to the impasse¹⁰ over Iran's nuclear ambitions.  It was quickly rejected by Bush administration officials, and the White House has made clear Iran should not expect a formal written reply. 

1 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。

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

4 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

5 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

6 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》

7 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

8 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

9 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。

10 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。