Iran's President to Visit India to Discuss Energy Issues
伊朗总统将访印 两国关系有改善
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to make a brief visit to India before the end of the month. It will be the first trip to the South Asian nation by an Iranian head of state in five years. Discussions are expected to include a proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. India's long-standing and friendly ties with Iran put it at odds with U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran over its controversial nuclear program.
伊朗总统艾哈迈迪内贾德将在4月底前往印度做简短访问，这将是5年来伊朗领导人对印度的首次访问。预期两国领导人将就拟议中的伊朗到巴基斯坦再到印度的输油管道交换意见。印度和伊朗的长期友好关系与美国因为伊朗有争议的核项目而孤立伊朗的努力形成对比。
Indian government officials say Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will make a brief stop in New Delhi before the end of April on his way to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
印度政府官员说，伊朗总统内贾德将在4月底前往巴基斯坦和斯里兰卡的途中，在新德里做短暂逗留。
The first visit by an Iranian president to New Delhi in five years comes amid U.S. efforts to have India and other nations increase pressure on Tehran to halt its suspected nuclear weapons development program.
这是5年来伊朗总统第一次访问印度，目前为了制止伊朗涉嫌开展的核武器项目，美国正努力敦促印度等国家向德黑兰施加压力。
The diplomatic relationship between Iran and India suffered after 2005, when the government here supported an International Atomic Energy Agency vote finding Iran in non-compliance with its international nuclear obligations.
印度和伊朗的外交关系2005年之后开始走下坡，当时印度政府支持国际原子能机构有关伊朗没有履行国际核能义务的报告。
Research fellow Shebonti Ray Dadwal at India's Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses says ties, however, are improving.
印度国防研究及分析研究所的研究人员达德沃尔说，印度和伊朗的关系正在改善：
"Over the last few months I think India has again put Iran back on the focus of its diplomatic relations," Dadwal said. "Relations had really, I think, gone down to a large extent. But now it's back on track."
“我认为这几个月来印度已经再次把伊朗作为外交关系的重点对象。我觉得两国关系一度的确低落，但是如今又返回轨道。”
India's national security adviser, M.K. Narayanan, confirmed Sunday that the Iranian leader would visit New Delhi "shortly." India favors diplomatic engagement with Iran, while the United States prefers an approach of isolating the Islamic republic in response to its nuclear ambitions.
印度国家安全顾问纳拉亚南星期天确认伊朗领袖即将访问新德里。印度希望与伊朗保持外交接触，而美国则由于伊朗的核野心而倾向于孤立这个伊斯兰国家。
Narayanan contends that India, as home to the world's second largest Shia Muslim population, should view its relationship with Iran as a domestic issue as much as it is a foreign policy matter.
Narayanan, in comments made to an international strategic forum in New Delhi, flatly rejected India joining any multi-national compact to pressure Iran over the nuclear issue. The national security adviser says India is better situated than any other nation to talk with Iran and New Delhi wants to avoid what he called "conflict diplomacy."
India has another reason for deepening its long-standing relationship with Iran. With a booming economy and a serious shortage of energy, India hopes to tap Iranian natural gas through a planned 2700 kilometer pipeline that would transit Pakistan.
印度还有另外一个原因要进一步加强跟伊朗的长期关系。随着印度经济的蓬勃发展与能源严重短缺，印度希望通过一项穿越巴基斯坦，长达2千7百公里的输送管道计划获得伊朗的天然气。
Talks among the three countries' petroleum ministers concerning the multi-billion dollar pipeline project are due to resume Wednesday in Islamabad.
这三个国家的石油部长将于星期三在伊斯兰堡恢复有关谈判，继续讨论这项价值亿万美元的输气管道计划。
Analyst Shebonti Ray Dadwal says the project, in the works for many years, still faces barriers before any gas would begin flowing through Pakistan to India.
分析人士达德瓦尔说，虽然这个项目已经酝酿多年，但是要想让天然气开始通过巴基斯坦的管道输往印度，仍然需要解决一些障碍：
"Officially the big hitch is pricing," Dadwal said. "They (Iran) had promised to sell it at a much lower price. Now they suddenly almost doubled the price. So that is a problem for India and Pakistan. Between India and Pakistan also the transit fee issue has yet to be resolved."
“官方的一大障碍是价格。伊朗曾经许诺以更低的价格出售其天然气，现在他们突然加价近一倍。这对印度和巴基斯坦来说是个问题。另外，印巴之间还没有解决输送费的问题。”
Another hitch, analysts say, is strong U.S. opposition to the project.
分析人士说，另外一个障碍是美国坚决反对该项目。
Also still pending is a deal for the export of five million tons of liquefied natural gas over 25 years from Iran to India. That contract, estimated to exceed $20 billion also faces a price dispute.
伊朗和印度之间还需要签署的另外一项协议是，伊朗要在25年期间向印度出口5百万吨液化天然气。这项协议的价值估计超过200亿美元，但也陷入价格争端。
