VOA标准英语2009-US Leaves Decision on Restarting Peace Dialo

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other key members of his new Cabinet have concluded meetings with a high-ranking American envoy¹. The topic of Pakistan was discussed repeatedly during the two days of talks.
　
U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns, 11 Jun 2009

The United States is leaving it to India and Pakistan to decide how to re-engage when it comes to their stalled peace dialog. That is what U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns told reporters following talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top Indian government officials.

Burns, who is the senior American career diplomat², said he gave Mr. Singh a letter from U.S. President Barack Obama. He did not reveal the contents, but it is widely reported here the letter urges India to resume discussions with its neighbor and long-time rival.

India put the peace talks on "pause" following last November's terror attack on Mumbai, which is blamed on militants³ from Pakistan.

India says it wants to see progress in bringing those responsible for the attack to justice. Pakistan says resumption of the dialog must focus on resolving the long-standing disagreement over the Kashmir region, claimed by both countries and a catalyst⁴ for several of their wars against each other.

Burns says the territorial⁵ dispute is something New Delhi and Islamabad do need to discuss, but with the desires of the Kashmiris in mind.

"With regards to Kashmir it remains⁶ our view a resolution of that issue has to take into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people," said William Burns.

Ties between Washington and New Delhi are at perhaps their warmest since Indian independence. That results from last year's landmark⁷ agreement signed on civil nuclear cooperation.

But there are remaining issues from that pact⁸, including parameters⁹ for India's reprocessing of nuclear fuel that originates in the United States. Burns announced negotiations¹⁰ on reprocessing would begin before the end of next month.

Burns also indicated movement on reaching an agreement with India required by U.S. law for all foreign military purchases of sensitive American technology.

"We are making good progress and I am very hopeful that we will be able to get past that issue and move ahead to expand defense¹¹ cooperation between us," he said.

The agreement would clear the way for a substantial increase of American sales of sophisticated military equipment to India, whose top suppliers are Russia and Israel.

U.S. and Indian diplomats¹² are hoping to have several agreements ready in time for the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in late July.

1 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。

2 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

5 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

9 parameters   

因素，特征； 界限； （限定性的）因素( parameter的名词复数 )； 参量； 参项； 决定因素

参考例句：

• We have to work within the parameters of time. 我们的工作受时间所限。
• See parameters.cpp for a compilable example. This is part of the Spirit distribution. 可编译例子见parameters.cpp.这是Spirit分发包的组成部分。

10 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。

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

12 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》