2006年VOA标准英语-Putin Expresses Hope Iran Will Accept Russ

By Lisa McAdams
Moscow
22 February 2006

Vladimir Putin  
  
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is still hopeful a positive result can be reached with Iran concerning the international dispute over its nuclear program. Mr. Putin made the comment during a joint¹ press conference in Azerbaijani's capital, Baku, Wednesday, where he completed two days of talks with President Ilham Aliyev.

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President Putin had been expected to focus on energy issues during his two-day visit to Azerbaijan. But that issue got sidelined, amid the ongoing² tension over whether Iran will accept a Russian compromise proposal designed to stave off threatened U.N. Security Council sanctions over its nuclear program.

President Putin admitted the plan, backed by the United States and Europe, has been a hard sell. But he says he still thinks Russia can broker³ a positive result, whereby Iran would accept the plan, which calls for Russia to enrich Tehran's uranium on its own soil to ensure that it is not diverted to make a nuclear weapon.

In remarks broadcast on Russian television, Putin cited no specific reason for the optimism, other than to say that sooner or later all such problems must be resolved - all the better, he adds, between neighbors.

Privately⁴, analysts⁵ in Moscow suggest that the Kremlin also wants to be sure that Azerbaijan, which borders Iran, will support any decision by Moscow to oppose possible punitive⁶ sanctions against Tehran.

In his remarks to reporters, President Aliyev said nothing on the subject. Instead, he focused his attention on efforts to increase bilateral⁷ trade between Baku and Moscow.

Aliyev says the economies of the two countries are developing very dynamically, providing what he said are new opportunities for cooperation. This, as Azerbaijan marks the start of what is being called, the Year of Russia in Azerbaijan.

The talks also yielded a number of scientific and technical agreements, as well as a pledge to step up bilateral cooperation in countering international terrorism, drug trafficking and the illegal weapons trade.

The two presidents also agreed on the need for further talks on determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

4 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 punitive   

adj.惩罚的，刑罚的

参考例句：

• They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
• The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

7 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。