VOA标准英语2008年-US National Security Adviser Hadley Visits Turk

U.S. National Security Adviser¹ Stephen Hadley is meeting Thursday with Turkish officials to reportedly discuss the standoff over Iran's disputed nuclear program. Hadley's visit to Turkey comes two days before talks in Geneva in which a senior U.S. diplomat² will for the first time join colleagues from other world powers at a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.
　
Stephen Hadley speaks to the media in Ankara, Turkey, 17 Jul 2008

U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley is holding talks Thursday with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan on so-called routine consultations³ on regional issues. But, they reportedly are also discussing Iran's nuclear program.

Stressing the relationship between the United States and Turkey, Hadley said the two countries are united in fighting terrorism, including against Kurdish rebels who stage attacks on Turkey from bases in northern Iraq.

"The United States appreciates very much its strong strategic partnership⁴ with its close friend and strong ally Turkey, as we deal with the challenges of the 21st century," he said.
　
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan (File)

Though Hadley did not comment on any discussion over Iran's nuclear program, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said at a news conference that the issue of Iran did come up and that it would be "handled through dialogue."

In an interview Wednesday, Babacan spoke⁵ about Turkey's role in the diffusing⁶ tensions over Iran's nuclear program.

"We have good relations with both Iran and the U.S.," he said. "We respect Iran's right to civil nuclear power, but we also share regional concerns about the situation. We are in touch with all parties involved. They tell us that we should also be in the picture."

Babacan said Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki would visit Ankara for talks Friday and the nuclear program would be on their agenda.

Top U.S. Diplomat William Burns will attend talks with Iranian envoy⁷ Saeed Jalili in Switzerland on Saturday aimed at persuading Iran to halt activities that could lead to the development of atomic weapons.

Turkey believes Iran has the right to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program, but calls on Tehran to be transparent⁸.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out a military strike on Iran if it does not give up uranium enrichment and heed⁹ Security Council demands aimed at dispelling¹⁰ fears that Tehran wants to make nuclear weapons. Iran claims its nuclear program is only aimed at generating electricity.

International relations expert Soli Ozel says Turkey has a vested interest in resolving the current tensions.

"Ankara is very concerned about Iran going nuclear , but Ankara is also very concerned about Iran being attacked by the U.S. I guess you would agree we could ill afford to have another war in our neighborhood," he said.

Prime Minister Erdogan said last week that Ankara might be asked to play a role in the Iran nuclear row similar to the role it is playing in Syria-Israel peace efforts. Ankara is currently mediating¹¹ indirect talks between Tel Aviv and Damascus.

Ankara is also reported to have played an important role in defusing recent tensions in Lebanon over the election of its president.

The current Islamic rooted AK party -- unlike many of its predecessors¹² -- has made it a priority to improve relations with Middle Eastern countries. According to experts, that policy is making Ankara an increasingly important diplomatic player in the volatile¹³ Middle East.

 

1 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

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 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 diffusing   

（使光）模糊，漫射，漫散( diffuse的现在分词 )； （使）扩散； （使）弥漫； （使）传播

参考例句：

• Compounding this confusion is a diffusing definition of journalist. 新闻和娱乐的掺和扩散了“记者”定义。
• Diffusing phenomena also so, after mix cannot spontaneous separating. 扩散现象也如此，混合之后不能自发的分开。

7 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。

8 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

9 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

10 dispelling   

v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He succeeded in dispelling our suspicious and won our confidence. 他终于消除了我们的怀疑，得到了我们的信任。 来自辞典例句
• Truth is a torch, which can pierce the mist without dispelling it. 真理是一个火炬，不用驱散大雾，其火炬即能透过。 来自互联网

11 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。

12 predecessors   

n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。