VOA常速英语2015--美国国会是否将破坏伊朗核协议?(在线收听

Will US Congress Help, Hurt Iran Nuclear Deal? 美国国会是否将破坏伊朗核协议?

WASHINGTON—

A growing number of U.S. lawmakers of both political parties say Congress should have an up-or-down vote if a final accord is reached on Iran’s nuclear program. Even as the Obama administration braces for months of intensive international negotiations with Iran, it is also fighting to ensure that congressional actions do not torpedo the diplomatic effort.

越来越多的美国两党国会议员表示,如果伊朗核项目最终协议达成,国会应该有批准或否决权。奥巴马政府今后几个月不仅面临着和伊朗的艰难国际谈判,还需要尽力确保国会的行动不会葬送这一外交努力。

A nuclear deal with Iran is too important for Congress to be silent, according to Republican Senator Bob Corker.

共和党参议员、参议院外委会主席考克说,伊朗核问题的重要程度使得议会难以保持沉默。

“I know there are a lot of details that will be worked out over the next several months. That is why, on behalf of the American people, Congress needs to be playing a role,” he said.

他说:“我知道在接下来的数月还有许多细节需要讨论。因此,国会作为美国人民的代表,需要发挥作用。”

Corker wants to freeze any Iran sanctions relief for 60 days, giving lawmakers time to approve or reject a final accord.

考克要求把任何解除对伊朗制裁的决定冻结60天,使议员有时间来通过或否决最终协议。

He notes that Congress passed those sanctions to begin with.

他说, 这些制裁最初也是国会决定的。

“Everyone would say that the congressionally-mandated sanctions are what helped in a strong way get Iran to the [negotiating] table,” he said.

“每个人都会说,是国会批准的制裁迫使伊朗回到谈判桌上来。”他说。

The White House has threatened a veto.

白宫威胁会予以否决。白宫发言人厄内斯特说:

“We do not believe that Congress should be in a position where they are going to vote on legislation prior to June that could interfere with the talks," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest, "and we would not envision a scenario where we would go along with any sort of congressional action that would undermine the president’s authority.”

“我们不认为国会应该在六月之前作出妨碍对话的表决。我们也不会赞成国会采取可能危害总统权威的行动。”

But some Democrats are joining Republicans in calling for a vote on the deal. Charles Schumer, expected to be the Senate’s next Democratic leader, is among them.

但是一些民主党人正在和共和党人一起呼吁对这项协议投票。即将成为下一任众议院民主党领导人的舒尔默就是其中一员。

If enough Democrats side with Schumer, Congress could override a presidential veto and block sanctions relief demanded by Tehran.

如果有足够数量的民主党人和舒尔默站在一边,国会就可以推翻总统的否决,并阻止德黑兰要求的解除制裁。

“The Republican-controlled Senate and House have no appetite to lift sanctions against Iran,” said Ken Sofer, national security analyst at the Center for American Progress.

美国进步中心的国家安全分析员肯恩·索弗说:“共和党控制的参众两院没有兴趣解除对伊朗的制裁。”

He also sais said President Obama can suspend sanctions on his own, but eliminating them would require an act of Congress.

索弗说,奥巴马总统可以自己决定暂停制裁,但是取消制裁就需要国会来决定。

He says lawmakers have a role to play in an Iran deal, but not the one being debated.

“The role isn’t at the negotiating table trying to work out the exact details of the agreement, it is in the enforcement of the agreement. That is where Congress can play a very valuable role. Not by voting up-or-down on an agreement, but by making sure that Iran is sticking by its commitments,” said analyst Ken Sofer.

“国会的角色不是在谈判桌上讨论协议细节,而是执行这个协议。这才是国会所扮演的非常重要的角色。不是对于协议的直接表决,而是确保伊朗履行承诺。”他说。

Senator Corker dismisses suggestions that robust congressional involvement will kill a deal. Sofer says Obama has work to do.

参议员考克不认为加强国会的参与度会扼杀协议。他说,奥巴马总统还是可以有所作为的。

“These are the most complex negotiations we have ever seen, not only between Iran and the P5-plus-1, it’s negotiations within the P5-plus-1, and then negotiations within the United States, as well as negotiations within Iran," he said. "And trying to satisfy all those constituents and get to an agreement that works for everyone and removes one of the most critical threats to U.S. national security — that’s a very difficult task.”

考克说:“这是我们见过的最复杂的谈判,不仅是伊朗和五常加一的国家之间,而且是五常加一国家内部的谈判、美国国内的谈判,也是伊朗国内的谈判。要使所有这些成员满意的达成一个协议并消除对美国国家安全最致命的威胁之一,这是一个非常艰难的任务。”

Action is expected soon. Corker’s bill could be approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee next week.

近期将会有行动。考克的议案可能在下周被参议院对外关系委员会通过。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/voastandard/2015/4/303617.html