2007年VOA标准英语-North Korea Skips Nuclear Meeting Pending Money

By Luis Ramirez
Beijing
20 March 2007

Talks on North Korea's nuclear programs hit a snag in Beijing, with North Korean negotiators refusing to attend a meeting of the heads of delegation². Diplomats³ say the North Koreans are demanding they first get back money that was frozen in a Macau bank. As VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Beijing, the United States says that, despite the snag, talks remain on track.

 
Negotiators from North and South Korea, Japan, Russia, China and the U.S. begin a new round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, in Beijing, 19 Mar¹ 2007
The dispute over the nearly $25 million frozen by U.S. actions in a Macau bank has long been a stumbling block to the nuclear talks.

Negotiators, however, had hoped that a recent agreement clearing the way for the release of that money would allow them to move on to the far more important issue of denuclearization.

But Pyongyang says an agreement is not enough. It wants the cash in its hands before it continues with the six-nation talks.

The issue of the funds resurfaced on Tuesday, slowing down what is supposed to be a meeting to set a timetable for the dismantling⁴ of North Korea's nuclear programs.

Nori Shikata, a spokesman for the Japanese delegation, told VOA the Chinese hosts say North Korea is not talking until the money from Banco Delta⁵ Asia, or BDA, shows up in Pyongyang's bank account.

"After we had a meeting with the Chinese delegation, we heard that North Korea is taking the position that they will not participate in the heads of delegation meetings as long as they cannot confirm the transfer of money from BDA," said Nori Shikata.

U.S. officials this week announced the money would be released to a bank in Beijing, after they received North Korean assurances that the funds - which the U.S. alleged⁶ were obtained through counterfeiting⁷ and other illegal activities - would be used for humanitarian⁸ and educational purposes.

Macanese officials on Monday confirmed that they would transfer the funds to a bank account in Beijing - a transaction that requires paperwork and time.

The latest round of talks among China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, and the United States began here on Monday, and diplomats said they did not see the latest snag as something that could derail the process.

 
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill speaks to reporters in Beijing, 20 Mar 2007

Chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill said he is confident the talks remain on track despite the North Koreans' boycotting⁹ of Tuesday's plenary session.

He said the matter should be resolved as soon as banking¹⁰ formalities are completed.

"I think they want their money but I assume it will be worked out in banking circles and they'll figure out a solution to that," he said. "From our point of view, we would like the money transferred as soon as possible, but that has to be resolved and I'm sure there are a number of banking institutions working on it."

The aim of this round is to evaluate the implementation¹¹ of a February 13 agreement that calls for North Korea to shut down its main nuclear reactor¹² and a plutonium factory, in exchange for energy aid and diplomatic concessions¹³.

The negotiators hope to leave with a timetable for the nuclear shutdown.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

3 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》

4 dismantling   

（枪支）分解

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。
• The dismantling of a nuclear reprocessing plant caused a leak of radioactivity yesterday. 昨天拆除核后处理工厂引起了放射物泄漏。

5 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

6 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

7 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网

8 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

9 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

10 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

11 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

12 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。

13 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。