VOA标准英语2008年-India Moves A Step Closer To US Nuclear Pact

International Atomic Energy Agency governors have adopted a plan for inspecting India's nuclear facilities. The move is a key step that had to be satisfied before India and the United States can go ahead with a planned nuclear cooperation agreement. Tendai Maphosa has more in this report from London.

The safeguards agreed upon by the U.N. nuclear watchdog allow India to import nuclear fuel and technology from the United States and other countries. In return India will open up its civilian¹ nuclear installations to international inspectors². IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei addressed the governors at the meeting in Vienna.

"We expect to start implementing³ the agreement at new facilities in 2009," he said. "Facilities will be notified by India to the agency in stages, and the Secretariat will keep you informed when facilities are submitted for safeguards. As with other safeguards agreements between the agency and member states, the agreement is of indefinite duration."

India, which has tested nuclear weapons, is one of three nuclear powers that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The other two are Israel, which is believed to have a number of weapons and India's regional rival Pakistan which has also conducted nuclear tests.

Malcolm Grimston of Chatham House, the London-based research center, says some Indians felt entering into a deal with the IAEA would place them at a disadvantage over Pakistan.

"I think this deal is America's attempt to bring India closer to the non-proliferation treaty," he said. "But clearly many Indians feel this will reduce their ability to respond to what they see as a nuclear threat from Pakistan so its trying to tread a very narrow line between on the one hand ensuring that the world nuclear security is protected as far as possible but doing it in such a way that the Indian people will accept some curbs⁴ on their nuclear activities."

Speaking after the meeting, ElBaradei said he believed the agreement is good for India and the world. The U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, Greg Schulte, said it represented a major step forward to opening civilian nuclear cooperation with India and strengthen non-proliferation.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hailed it as a milestone⁵ in India's cooperation with the international community in the peaceful use of atomic energy.

To carry out the deal, India must strike separate agreements with the IAEA and with the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which comprises countries that export nuclear material, before it can go to the U.S. Congress for approval.

 

 

1 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。

2 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

4 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

5 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。