VOA标准英语2008年-Britain to Freeze Iranian Bank Assets in Nuclea

By Paula Wolfson
London
16 June 2008

U.S. President George Bush has won British support for his twin appeals for more troops for Afghanistan and more pressure on Iran. From London, VOA's Paula Wolfson reports he got some welcome news from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The president's farewell trip to Europe ended on a positive note for the White House.
　

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (l) poses with U.S. President Bush, on the doorstep of his official residence at 10 Downing Street in central London, 14 Jun 2008

At a joint¹ news conference following talks in London, Prime Minister Brown said his government is freezing the British assets of Iran's largest bank. And he warned Tehran it faces ever increasing sanctions if it refuses to suspend nuclear enrichment.

"If Iran continues to ignore united resolutions - to ignore our offers of partnership² - we have no choice but to intensify³ sanctions," he said. "And so today, Britain will urge Europe, and Europe will agree, to take further sanctions against Iran."

The prime minister also announced plans to send more British troops to Afghanistan. A reporter then asked him if the United Kingdom might draw down its military contingent⁴ in the Basra area of southern Iraq, to balance out the increased Afghan deployment⁵.

"You can not trade numbers between the two countries," said Prime Minister Brown. "There is a job to do in Iraq and I have described it. And there is a job to do in Afghanistan and we will continue to do it."

President Bush welcomed the news, and said Gordon Brown is living up to his commitments, despite pressure from the British public to pull out of Iraq.

"He has left more troops in Iraq than originally anticipated," said President Bush. "And like me, we will be making our decisions based on the conditions on the ground, the recommendation of our commanders, without an artificial timetable set by politics."

There was also a joint denunciation from the two leaders of the government of Zimbabwe. Both expressed concern about the outlook for the upcoming runoff presidential election.

Gordon Brown said Robert Mugabe must not be allowed to steal another term in office.

"And that is why we call for Zimbabwe to accept a United Nation's human rights envoy⁶ to visit Zimbabwe now and to accept the international monitors from all parts of the world who are available to ensure that is a free and fair election," he said.

The Bush-Brown talks also covered Burma, world oil prices, trade, and the war on terrorism.

During the session with reporters, Mr. Bush was asked about Afghan President Hamid Karzai's threat to send troops into bordering Pakistan to target terrorists.

President Bush urged both sides to keep calm, and offered to do all he can to help reduce tensions.

"It is in no one's interest the extremists have a safe haven⁷ from which to operate," he said. "Obviously, it is a testy⁸ situation there."

From London, President Bush and Prime Minister Brown traveled to Belfast to show their support for the Northern Ireland peace process.

"I am impressed by the progress that is being made toward peace and reconciliation⁹," said President Bush. "As a matter of fact, the world is impressed by the progress being made toward peace and reconciliation. And that obviously takes a commitment by leadership."

It was the last stop on a farewell tour of Europe that has already taken the president to Slovenia, Germany, Italy and France.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

4 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

5 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

6 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。

7 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

8 testy   

adj.易怒的；暴躁的

参考例句：

• Ben's getting a little testy in his old age.上了年纪后本变得有点性急了。
• A doctor was called in to see a rather testy aristocrat.一个性格相当暴躁的贵族召来了一位医生为他检查。

9 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。