2007年VOA标准英语-US to Join Iran, Syria at Meeting on Iraq

By David Gollust
Washington
27 February 2007

The State Department said Tuesday the United States will attend two conferences on Iraq that might include dialogue by U.S. officials with counterparts from Iran and Syria. The Iraqi government is convening¹ the meetings, one at the envoy² level in Baghdad next month and the second involving foreign ministers as early as the first half of April. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Bush administration officials insist the two meetings do not represent a change in policy, but they could provide a rare opportunity for direct U.S. dialogue with Iranian and Syrian officials on Iraqi security issues.

The meetings are an initiative of the Iraqi government, which hopes the regional gatherings⁴ can help stabilize⁵ the country.

The first in Baghdad in mid-March will bring together ambassadors from Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria, and envoys⁶ from the five permanent member countries of the U.N. Security Council.

The second meeting, probably in April, will be at the ministerial level and also involve the G-8 grouping of major industrialized countries - thus adding Japan, Italy, Germany and Canada.

The venue⁷ has not been announced but U.S. officials say it will probably be held in the Middle East but not Baghdad, where security conditions would preclude⁸ such a gathering³.

Condoleezza Rice at Senate hearing 27 Feb 2007

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice confirmed U.S. participation⁹ in the meetings at a Senate hearing Tuesday, noting that Syria and Iran will be invited and that they have a stake in a stable Iraq. "The violence occurring within the country has a decided¹⁰ impact on Iraq's neighbors. And Iraq's neighbors, as well as the international community, have a clear role to play in supporting the Iraqi government's efforts to promote peace and national reconciliation¹¹ within the country," she said.

Despite a chilly¹² relationship, the United States maintains its embassy in Syria but has not had diplomatic relations with Iran in nearly three decades.

At a news briefing, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack would not rule out interaction between Secretary Rice and other U.S. officials at the two meetings with their Iranian and Syrian counterparts.

But he said it meant no policy change, and that in the case of Iran, there can be no negotiations¹⁴ until the Tehran government meets international demands to end uranium enrichment. "You can have a discussion on issues related to Iraq, and that not be a negotiation¹³. So in the conduct of diplomacy¹⁵ you need to have a certain amount of flexibility¹⁶ if you are going to achieve the goals that you want to achieve. Again, the focus of the meeting in Baghdad is going to be on Iraq," she said.

The United States has accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross its border into Iraq and U.S. military officials have recently presented what they said was evidence that Iranian-made weapons are being used in attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. Both countries deny the allegations.

Spokesman McCormack suggested it would be imprudent for the United States to preclude any discussion at the two regional meetings that might help insure the safety of U.S. forces.

1 convening   

召开( convene的现在分词 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. 民10:7但招聚会众的时候、们要吹号、不要吹出大声。
• We warmly welcome the convening of Asia-Europe meeting in London. 热烈欢迎亚欧会议在伦敦召开。

2 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。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

5 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。

6 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

7 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

8 preclude   

vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍

参考例句：

• We try to preclude any possibility of misunderstanding.我们努力排除任何误解的可能性。
• My present finances preclude the possibility of buying a car.按我目前的财务状况我是不可能买车的。

9 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

12 chilly   

adj.凉快的，寒冷的

参考例句：

• I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
• I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

13 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

14 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。

15 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。

16 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。