VOA常速英语2007年-Bush, Sarkozy Agree on Iran

By Scott Stearns
White House
07 November 2007
 

U.S. President George Bush and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, say they are determined¹ to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports the two leaders met Wednesday at the historic home of America's first president, George Washington.

Both men say Iran was a major part of their talks at Mount Vernon. President Bush thanked the French leader for his determination to settle the nuclear dispute peacefully.

"The idea of Iran having a nuclear weapon is dangerous," said President Bush. "And therefore now is the time for us to work together to diplomatically solve this problem."

Iran says it is not secretly developing nuclear weapons. The government in Tehran says it is enriching uranium solely² for the peaceful civilian³ purpose of generating electricity.

While Russia and China are resisting tougher UN sanctions, France is with the United States and Britain in calling for harsher Security Council action against Iran.

President Sarkozy says more punitive⁴ actions must go together with what he calls "the outstretched hand of dialogue" because he says Iran deserves better than isolation⁵.

"It is unacceptable that Iran should have at any point a nuclear weapon, but Iran is entitled to the energy of the future which is civilian nuclear energy," said President Sarkozy. "I believe in the effectiveness of sanctions. I believe even in the need to toughen the sanctions."

President Sarkozy says dialogue with Tehran must be kept open to avoid what he calls "the worst case scenario⁶."

Finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff will also be a major topic of the American leader's Friday and Saturday meetings with German Chancellor⁷ Angela Merkel.

In a Tuesday interview with German television, Mr. Bush said if Iran wants to see World War III, a way to do it is to attack Israel with nuclear weapons.

At Mount Vernon Wednesday, the president says he still hopes to find a peaceful resolution.

"I believe it is important for us to send clear signals to the Iranian government that the free world understands the risks of you trying to end up with a nuclear weapon," said Mr. Bush. "And therefore we will work together to try to find if there is not rational people inside your government who are tired of isolation and who believe there is a better way forward."

Iranian President Mahmound Ahmadinejad Wednesday said his country has reached a key nuclear target of operating three thousand centrifuges. Nuclear experts say 3,000 centrifuges operating in ideal conditions could enrich enough uranium to make an atomic bomb in about a year.

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 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。

5 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

6 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

7 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。