2007年VOA标准英语-Envoys Proclaim Success, But Defer Deadlines, i

By Kurt Achin
Beijing
20 July 2007

Diplomats1 from Russia (L), South Korean (2nd L), US (2nd R) and Japan (R) walk out at the end of another round of six party talks in Beijing, 20 July 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070723/0910210.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Diplomats from Russia (L), South Korean (2nd L), US (2nd R) and Japan (R) walk out at the end of another round of six party talks in Beijing, 20 July 2007

Negotiators wrapping up this week's session of talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs are defending their decision not to set deadlines for future action at this time. As VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Beijing, diplomats are handing over some of the thorniest² technical issues to experts for several months before deciding how to proceed.

As he prepared to board a plane for Washington at Beijing's airport, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill gave a glowing review of this week's six-nation talks.

"We came through I think what is arguably the most productive week in the six party process," he said.

Hill is Washington's chief envoy³ in charge of seeking a diplomatic end to North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities⁴. He met this week with counterparts from China, Japan, Russia, and North and South Korea.

Hill praised the shutdown of North Korea's main nuclear facility at Yongbyon in keeping with a February agreement, and said the six nations fine-tuned their "vision" for the next phase of talks. This requires North Korea to declare all of its nuclear programs, as a prelude⁵ to disabling them in exchange for energy aid and diplomatic benefits.

What this week's talks did not do, was set any specific deadlines for future actions. South Korea's delegate, Chun Yung-woo, says that should come as no surprise.

Chun says the six parties basically knew coming in to the talks that they would not reach specific agreements during this session, because the issues at hand are so complex.

According to a statement Friday from China's Foreign Ministry⁶, which chaired the talks, the six nations will hand over the more daunting⁷ technical issues to expert "working groups." The experts will have until late August or early September to draw up a menu of options for pushing the February agreement forward.

Ambassador Hill says it is only then that the six nation diplomats will reconvene and start considering timetables. Overall, Hill says he hopes North Korea's nuclear programs can be dismantled⁸ within about a year and a half.

"I would like as a sort of target time frame to get through the end of '07 and then get on to what I believe is the end game in '08," he said. "And I think it's feasible, but I'll know better when I see the working groups."

Hill says steady progress is more important, however, than adherence⁹ to exact deadlines.

"You know, it is not so important whether it is done in November, or February," he said. "What is important is that we continue to make perceptible progress toward our goal, which is complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."

Hill says the six nations remain intent on scheduling a ministerial version of the six party talks, attended by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts, before the end of the year.

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 thorniest   

adj.多刺的( thorny的最高级 )；有刺的；棘手的；多障碍的

参考例句：

• Paradoxically, the thorniest outstanding issue involves Bolivia. 而荒谬可笑的是，最棘手的国家要事却牵涉到了玻利维亚。 来自互联网

3 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 prelude   

n.序言，前兆，序曲

参考例句：

• The prelude to the musical composition is very long.这首乐曲的序曲很长。
• The German invasion of Poland was a prelude to World War II.德国入侵波兰是第二次世界大战的序幕。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

8 dismantled   

拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消

参考例句：

• The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。
• The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。

9 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。