2006年VOA标准英语-Key Senator Says US Should Talk Directly With N

By Deborah Tate
Washington
07 July 2006

As the Bush administration seeks a united stance with other world leaders to find a diplomatic solution to the standoff with North Korea over its missile tests, one influential¹ U.S. lawmaker says the United States should consider direct talks with the North Koreans.

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Richard Lugar   
  
Senator Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, supports the six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

But Lugar has also long advocated direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang, and in an interview with VOA, he says his position has not changed following North Korea's missile tests this week:

"I have said we ought to have at some point intensive diplomacy², perhaps within the context of the six-power talks, as a part of that process, but nevertheless direct talks with the North Koreans because we really need to know their agenda, what is going to be required to bring some closure to the situation of potential nuclear weapons, both weapons that might be fired at other countries, including ourselves, or materials that could be exported to terrorists or to others who would pay North Korea money for this," he said.

The top Democrat³ on the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, also expressed his support for direct talks between the United States and North Korea earlier this week.

In an interview with CBS television, Biden said he is more concerned about Pyongyang's taking provocative⁴ actions that could escalate⁵ tensions in the region, than about its ability to strike the United States with a missile. "I do think thay are so irrational⁶ in term of miss miscalculating the rest of the world that they may try to play a game of brinksmanship conventionally on the continent, or their actions be so provocative that they cause the South or Japan to move toward their own movement toward nuclear capability," he said.

North Korea has long sought direct talks with the United States, but Washington maintains it will only meet with Pyongyang in the context of the six-party framework.

The six-nation talks, which include China, South Korea, Japan, Russia as well as the United States and North Korea have been stalled since November.

North Korea has boycotted⁷ the talks over U.S. financial sanctions imposed on the country because of its alleged⁸ counterfeiting⁹ of U.S. currency and other illegal activity.
 
 

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

3 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

4 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

5 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

6 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

7 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网