2006年VOA标准英语-Bush and Merkel Push Diplomacy on Iran

By Scott Stearns
Rostock, Germany
13 July 2006

President Bush and German Chancellor¹ Angela Merkel say they still believe the Iranian nuclear standoff can be resolved diplomatically, even though Tehran has not yet responded to an offer of economic incentives², if Iran stops enriching uranium. 

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George W. Bush confers with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after press conference in Stralsund, Germany, July 13, 2006   
  

President Bush says there is no question the issue of Iran enriching uranium can be solved diplomatically.

He met with the German chancellor as part of international efforts to convince Iran to accept a package of incentives to verifiably stop enriching uranium.

President Bush and Chancellor Merkel had hoped Iran would respond to that offer before Saturday's start of a meeting of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations.

But Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, told European officials that Tehran needs more time.  That led foreign ministers from the United States, Germany, France, Russia, China and Britain to again refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council.

President Bush says Iran is mistaken, if it thinks stalling will weaken international resolve.

"I truly think they are trying to wait us out - [thinking] 'it is just a matter of time, before people lose their nerve, or a matter of time, before different interests are able to influence the process," Mr. Bush said. "And, I think, they are going to be disappointed.  This coalition³ is a lot firmer than they think."

Chancellor Merkel said the incentives package is a substantive⁴ proposal that is in Iran's interests, but if the country does not respond quickly, the international community will take concerted diplomatic action.

"We have waited patiently, whether Iran will examine this offer, and in which way it will react," she said. "So far, we have not had any sort of reliable reaction, and, for us, the precondition for talks has always been the suspension of the uranium-enrichment activities."

Russia and China oppose economic sanctions against Iran.  President Bush says he and Chancellor Merkel will raise the issue again with the Russian leader at the G8 summit in St. Petersburg.

"It is important for Angela and myself to work with Vladimir Putin, which we will do at the G-8, to continue to encourage him to join us in saying to the Iranians, loud and clear, 'We are not kidding," Mr. Bush said. "It is a serious issue.  The world is united in insisting that you not have a nuclear weapons program.'"

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country will not back down from its right to produce nuclear fuel, and may reconsider cooperating with U.N. inspectors⁵.

The United States and many of its allies believe Iran wants to use that fuel to build nuclear weapons.  Iran says it is only interested in generating electricity. 

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

5 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》