2007年VOA标准英语-Iran and US Hold Mid-level Talks; Iraq Urges Mo

By Challiss McDonough
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
04 May 2007

There was a rare mid-level meeting Friday between Iranian and U.S. diplomats¹ at an international conference on Iraq. But at the same meeting, Iran's foreign minister has blasted the U.S. policies in the Middle East, and the hostility² between the two countries has largely overshadowed the work of the conference aimed at stabilizing³ Iraq. VOA Correspondent Challiss McDonough is in Sharm el-Sheikh, where the meeting took place, and she has this report.

Iraqi officials had hoped that the top diplomats from Iran and the United States might meet for the first time in many years on the sidelines of the conference, but that did not happen. There was an ambassador-level meeting instead.

Hoshyar Zebari gestures during a press conference at the international conference on Iraq, 04 May 2007

Although it was not quite what he had hoped for, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zubari welcomed the development, but still indicated some disappointment that the two states could not set aside their differences for the sake of Iraq's future.

"I don't know what went on in that meeting, but I think it was a positive sign that such a thing did take place while we are here," he said. This is a process, I think. It needs more work. There is a lot of suspicion, there is a lot of mistrust."

"But it is in my country's interest really to see a reduction of this tension. I need a conducive⁴ supportive regional environment for us, for my government to work, to be able to succeed," he continued.

Iran and the United States severed⁵ diplomatic relations in 1980, and talks of any sort between the two countries are exceedingly rare.

The two exchanged pleasantries over lunch Thursday and were supposed to sit at the same table at dinner Thursday night. Their seats were directly across from each other.

But Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki left without eating, blaming his early exit on some unspecified violation⁶ of Islamic law.

Mottaki was harshly critical of the United States in both his final remarks to the conference delegates and at his news conference later. He said, "The United States must accept the responsibilities arising from the occupation of Iraq," and should not point fingers elsewhere.

He said, "This unilateral policy, this arrogant⁷, one-sided policy is the main reason for what is going on in Iraq today." He said other nations, intellectuals and even the American people believe the U.S. is pursuing the wrong policy in Iraq. He said, "In such a situation we have to say the policies have failed, and try to correct these policies."

For her part, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she considered it a "breakthrough" to have the United States in the same room with all of Iraq's neighbors.

"I reassured⁸ the Iraqi foreign minister when we talked about it that the United States has no desire to have anything contribute to a more difficult set of circumstances for Iraq," she said. "We want Iraq's neighbors to behave in a way that is consistent with a democratic and stable Iraq. That's why this conference was convened⁹."

The diplomatic interplay between Iran and the United States largely overshadowed the developments of the final day of the Iraq conference.

Iraqi leaders discussed improving security and restoring stability in a landmark¹⁰ meeting with all of Iraq's neighboring countries, as well a host of other international organizations, including the United Nations, members of the G-8 group of industrialized nations and the European Union.

In his final remarks, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he would not allow terrorist groups to consider Iraq a "safe haven," and he asked for support.

He said, "We call on neighboring countries of the region to prevent the infiltration¹¹ of terrorist groups into Iraq and stop them from receiving funds, political support and media support."

On Thursday, the conference approved a new pact¹² between Iraq and the international community, known as the International Compact on Iraq.

The document sets specific goals for Iraq's political reconciliation¹³, economic development and security improvement. In exchange, the other nations taking part agreed to a series of mostly financial commitments to support those goals.

1 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》

2 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

3 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

4 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

5 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

7 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

8 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

10 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

11 infiltration   

n.渗透；下渗；渗滤；入渗

参考例句：

• The police tried to prevent infiltration by drug traffickers. 警方尽力阻止毒品走私分子的潜入。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A loss in volume will occur if infiltration takes place. 如果发生了渗润作用，水量就会减少。 来自辞典例句

12 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

13 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。