A U.S. official is expressing concern that tensions between Russia and Georgia could lead to armed conflict. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Daniel Fried used an appearance before a congressional panel Thursday to appeal to both countries for restraint.
美国官员对俄罗斯和格鲁吉亚之间的紧张可能导致武装冲突感到关切。负责欧洲事务的助理国务卿弗里德星期四利用在国会作证的机会呼吁俄罗斯和格鲁吉亚克制自己的行动。
At a hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Assistant Secretary Fried says the United States is concerned that tensions between Russia and Georgia could escalate, although he said he does not believe either of the neighboring countries wants war.
助理国务卿弗里德在欧洲安全与合作委员会的听证会上说，美国对俄罗斯和格鲁吉亚之间的紧张可能升级感到关切。不过他说，他认为这两个邻国都不希望打仗。
"What we fear is that with so much tension, so many armed people in close proximity and a record of provocations, there can be a spark setting off a wider problem and suddenly you are dealing with deaths, shootings, and an out-of-control incident. We worry about that a great deal," he said.
弗里德说，“我们担心的是，紧张局势严重，在很小的范围内集结了这么多军队，而且过去又有挑衅的记录，一旦擦枪走火，就会出现大问题。突然间，就得处理死人、枪战和失去控制的事件。我们对此非常担心。”
At issue are two breakaway regions of Georgia -- Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which declared their independence in the early 1990's, sparking fighting and the dispatch of Russian peacekeeping troops to the regions. Georgia has accused the Russian troops of backing separatists and has pledged to bring both areas back under central government control.
问题的核心是格鲁吉亚两个执意独立的地区：阿布哈兹和南奥塞梯。这两个地区在1990年代初期宣布独立，导致武装冲突，俄罗斯派遣维和部队进驻该地区。格鲁吉亚指责俄罗斯军队支持分离分子，并誓言把这两个地区重新置于中央政府控制之下。
Tensions rose last month, when Georgia accused Russia of shooting down an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft in Georgian airspace. Moscow has denied any role.
上个月，紧张加剧。格鲁吉亚指责俄罗斯击落一架在格鲁吉亚领空的无人驾驶侦察机。莫斯科否认跟这件事情有牵连。
Russia recently moved to increase ties with both regions, and has added to its peacekeeping troops in Abkhazia.
最近俄罗斯采取行动，加强跟两个分离地区的关系，并且向阿布哈兹增派了维和部队。
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was quoted in Russian news reports Thursday as saying the threat of Russian-Georgian military conflict over Abkhazia remains high. Moscow has threatened to send more troops to Abkhazia if Georgia continues to boost its military presence in the border territory.
星期四，俄罗斯的新闻报导援引格鲁吉亚总统萨卡什维利的话说，俄罗斯和格鲁吉亚军队间爆发军事冲突的可能性很大。莫斯科威胁说，如果格鲁吉亚继续加强在边界地区的军事存在，俄罗斯就派更多军队进入阿布哈兹。
Assistant U.S. Secretary Fried appealed to both sides for restraint - but particular to Russia. "We do not like the heated rhetoric that has come out of Russia. Sometimes Georgian rhetoric is hot as well. While we have urged restraint on Georgia, there is a difference between a very small vulnerable country and a very large country that we have to keep in mind. Even though we do counsel restraint on the Georgians, they are the vulnerable party and it is their territory that is under threat," he said.
美国助理国务卿弗里德呼吁双方、特别是俄罗斯保持克制。他说，“我们不喜欢俄罗斯方面措辞激烈的言论。有时候格鲁吉亚的言论也很激烈。虽然我们敦促双方都采取克制，但是我们必须记住，一个弱小国家和一个非常强大的国家是有区别的。虽然我们也建议格鲁吉亚采取克制，但它是弱小的一方。而且目前是格鲁吉亚的领土受到威胁。”
The House of Representatives has introduced a nonbinding resolution that expresses the sense of the House that the provocative and dangerous statements and actions of the Russian government undermine the territorial integrity of Georgia.
美国国会众议院提出了一个没有法律约束力的决议，表达众议院的观点决议说，俄罗斯政府的挑衅性的、危险的声明和行动损害了格鲁吉亚的领土完整。
Secretary Fried welcomes the resolution's strong expression of support for Georgia. He says it could give the Georgians the confidence that they are not alone on the matter, and may enable them to work constructively and diplomatically for peaceful resolutions of the Abkhaz and South Ossetia situations.
助理国务卿弗里德欢迎众议院强硬表达支持格鲁吉亚的立场。他说，这可能给予格鲁吉亚信心。让格鲁吉亚知道，在这个问题上格鲁吉亚不是孤立无援的。这可能使格鲁吉亚能够为和平解决阿布哈兹和南奥塞梯局势作出建设性的和外交方面的努力。 |