万花筒 Kaleidoscope 2007-05-08&09, 暴露女装吓跑伊朗外长？

Good afternoon.

What everyone wants to know: what went down to cause Iran's foreign minister to walk out of Thursday's diplomatic dinner.

Well, you could ask him, er, why he didn't make an effort. Look, I'm, I'm not given to chasing anyone.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was supposed to sit directly across from Rice, but US officials say he bolted when he saw the seating plan. The reason he gave that a red dress worn by a violinist entertaining the group was too revealing. So the face-to-face between Rice and Mottaki never happened. Instead, US and Iranian delegations¹ met at a lower, expert level, which while significant, is not a first. (not a first level though significant)

Our officials did as they did in Baghdad. They have an opportunity to exchange views about the substance of this meeting.

So much of this Iraq summit has been about the US and Iran. But with good reason, America blames Iran for violence in Iraq, Iran blames America, and Iraq is urging both sides to put their differences aside and put Iraq first. And security's what the latest meetings were all about, focusing on tighter borders with Iraq's immediate² neighbors, the local leg of this international effort to stabilize³ Iraq.

Without it, the reach of the violence, may know no boundaries, and the people of Iraq may know no peace. (It sounded like "known", but "may known" doesn't make sense. I think we can blame the Iranian accent for the confusion.)

Now with the discussions about saving Iraq nearing an end, the Iraqis and the world await to see if all that talk turns into action.

Charlie D'agata, CBS news, Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt.

1 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。