VOA标准英语2008年-India Ready to Review Treaty with Nepal

Under pressure from Nepal's new Maoist-led government, India says it is ready to review the 58-year-old treaty that governs the relationship between the two countries. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi the announcement followed talks between the former guerilla leader of Nepal's decade-long insurgency¹ and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
　
Indian PM Manmohan Singh, left, hugs Nepal's PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in New Delhi, India, 15 Sep 2008

India says it has agreed to its small neighbor's demand to review and consider modifying the 1950 treaty that governs relations with Nepal.

Earlier in the day, during a meeting with Indian politicians, Nepal's new prime minister called for all agreements between the two neighbors to be scrutinized².

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, says it is time for "revolutionary change in bilateral³ ties." He became the leader of Nepal's first republic government last month. He was at the forefront of the decade-long insurgency against Nepal's army under the now ousted⁴ monarchy⁵.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon says the foreign and home secretaries of the two country's will meet to review Nepal's security concerns and other issues "to reflect today's realities."
　
Nepal's foreign minister, Upendra Yadav, speaking to reporters in New Delhi, 16 Sept. 2008

Despite persistent⁶ questioning from reporters in New Delhi, Nepal's foreign minister, Upendra Yadav, a former Maoist cadre, would not specify⁷ which items in the 58-year-old treaty Kathmandu finds objectionable.

"We have to upgrade it. We have to revise it in order to make the friendship of both countries stronger," Yadav said.

Analysts⁸ say in addition to the security relationship and the desire for greater Indian investment that would help ease Nepal's trade imbalance, Kathmandu wants to change arrangements on sharing ofwater resources and management of the border.

Indian officials say the neighbors agreed they would set a minister-level joint⁹ committee to avert¹⁰ future flooding disasters. This follows flooding on the Kosi River, which originates in Nepal, that put much of the Indian state of Bihar under water last month.

During his visit which began Sunday, Prachanda has called the relationship between New Delhi and Kathmandu vital and requested increased investment in Nepal to help develop the landlocked Himalayan country. He says India has to understand there "is going to be a problem" if Nepal, wedged between China and India, does not develop.

Indian business leaders have expressed apprehension¹¹ about Nepal's security situation, its lack of transparency and the confusing regulatory and tax structure.

The decade-long civil war in Nepal devastated¹² the country's economy.

Prachanda, who is leading a 50-member government and business delegation¹³ to India, says his trip has put the two-way relationship on a new level, ending mutual¹⁴ suspicions. He is to visit Bangalore on Wednesday to observe the city's famous information technology industry before returning home to Kathmandu.

 

1 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

2 scrutinized   

v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws. 宝石商人仔细察看钻石有无瑕庇 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. 我们一起把甜食店里买来的十二块柠檬蛋糕细细打量了一番。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比

3 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。

4 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

5 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

6 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

7 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。

8 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。

9 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。

10 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

11 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

12 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

13 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

14 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。