VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton: Iranian, N. Korean Nuclear Issues

By David Gollust
State Department
21 October 2009

 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a speech on nonproliferation before the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, 21 Oct 2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says thwarting¹ the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea is critical to efforts to shore up the global non-proliferation regime. In an address in Washington, she said a new nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia and Senate ratification² of the test-ban treaty would demonstrate U.S. leadership on the issue.

Clinton used the policy address, to the U.S. Institute of Peace, to reaffirm the administration's commitment to the goal declared by President Obama last April in Prague of a world free of nuclear weapons.

She also made clear that efforts to reinforce the global nuclear non-proliferation regime depend, at least in the near term, on successful resolution of concerns about the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs.

The secretary reiterated³ the United States' readiness to engage bilaterally⁴ with Pyongyang in efforts to revive the six-party talks chaired by China on the North Korean nuclear program.

But she said a North Korean return to the negotiations⁵, stalled since last year is by no means the only step Pyongyang must take if it wants a more normal relationship with Washington.

"Current sanctions will not be relaxed until Pyongyang takes verifiable, irreversible steps toward complete denuclearization," said the secretary of state. "Its leaders should be under no illusion that the United States will ever have normal, sanctions-free relations with a nuclear-armed North Korea."

Clinton similarly stressed the administration's readiness to engage bilaterally and multilaterally with Iran - provided it is serious about taking "practical steps" to address the international community's concerns about its nuclear program.

But she said that process cannot be allowed to drag on inconclusively.

"The process of engagement cannot be open-ended. We are not prepared to talk just for the sake of talking," said Clinton. "As President Obama noted⁶ after the October first meeting in Geneva, we appear to have made a constructive⁷ beginning, but that needs to be followed up by constructive actions."

Clinton said prompt action is needed, in particular, on implementing⁸ a plan to use Iranian low-enriched uranium - to be further processed abroad - to refuel a research reactor⁹ in Tehran producing isotopes¹⁰ for medical purposes.

Talks on that subject, held this week in Vienna, are viewed as a possible model for an accord under which Iran could continue a civilian¹¹ nuclear program while resolving concerns that its current enrichment effort is weapons-related.

Clinton gave an optimistic assessment¹² of talks with Moscow aimed at a new big-power Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by the time the current START accord expires in early December.

She said the administration believes a new treaty will bolster¹³ U.S. national security and set an example for the rest of the world.

"We are under no illusions that this START agreement will persuade Iran and North Korea to end their illicit¹⁴ nuclear activities," said Clinton. "But it will demonstrate that the United States is living up to its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligation to work toward nuclear disarmament."

The Secretary of State also appealed for U.S. Senate ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which failed to win approval when it was before that body a decade ago.

"CTBT ratification would also encourage the international community to move forward with other essential non-proliferation steps," she said. "And make no mistake, other states rightly or wrongly, view American ratification of the CTBT as a sign of our commitment to the non-proliferation consensus¹⁵."

Clinton called for bolstering¹⁶ the authority and resources of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. She said if the IAEA is to be a "bulwark¹⁷" of the non-proliferation regime, it must have the resources necessary to do the job.

 

1 thwarting   

阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The republicans are trying to embarrass the president by thwarting his economic program. 共和党人企图通过阻挠总统的经济计划使其难堪。
• There were too many men resisting his authority thwarting him. 下边对他这个长官心怀不服的，故意作对的，可多着哩。

2 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

3 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

4 bilaterally   

[医]adv.两侧，双向地

参考例句：

• The data in the Performance Test shall be Bilaterally recorded and confirmed. 在生产线考核期间的数据应由双方共同记录并确认。
• Anatomic constraints may preclude the insertion a transarticular screw unilaterally or bilaterally. 解剖制约可能妨碍单边或双边插入关节螺钉。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

8 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

9 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。

10 isotopes   

n.同位素；同位素( isotope的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the many isotopes of carbon 碳的诸多同位素
• Tritium is one of the mildest radioactive isotopes. 氚是最和缓的放射性同位素之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 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。

12 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

13 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

14 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

15 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

16 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

17 bulwark   

n.堡垒，保障，防御

参考例句：

• That country is a bulwark of freedom.那个国家是自由的堡垒。
• Law and morality are the bulwark of society.法律和道德是社会的防御工具。