U.S. President Barack Obama is urging Russians to work with the United States to tackle the big security and economic problems of our time. In a speech to graduates of an economics school, Mr. Obama made the case for better relations.
美国总统奥巴马呼吁俄罗斯民众和美国一道，携手应对我们这个时代安全和经济领域的挑战。奥巴马总统利用对俄罗斯一所经济院校毕业生发表演讲的集会，阐述了美俄两国改善关系的重要性。
The president began his day in Moscow by wrapping up talks with Russian leaders.
当地时间星期二，奥巴马总统首先完成了与俄罗斯领导人的会晤。
He met for the first time with Russian Prime Minister - and former President - Vladimir Putin who many analysts consider the most powerful man in the country.
他和俄罗斯现任总理、前总统普京首次举行了面对面的会谈。很多分析人士认为，普京目前仍然是俄罗斯最有权势的人物。
Their words were cordial. Their tone was polite.
会晤期间，气氛良好，言辞也彬彬有礼。
"We may not end up agreeing on everything, but I think that we can have a tone of mutual respect and consultation that will serve both the American people and the Russian people well," said Mr. Obama.
奥巴马说：“或许我们做不到在所有问题上都达成一致，但是我们可以采取相互尊重、互相协商的态度，我认为这对美国人民和俄罗斯人民都有好处。”
A few hours later, the president shifted focus and took his case for better relations directly to the Russian people.
几个小时之后，奥巴马总统把焦点直接转向了俄罗斯民众，再次阐述了改善两国关系的重要性。
The venue was a graduation ceremony for the New Economic School, which was established in Moscow, after the fall of the Soviet Union, by Americans and Russians eager to provide training in free market theory.
奥巴马总统一行抵达了位于莫斯科的新经济学院。这是继前苏联瓦解之后由美国和俄罗斯合建的，目的是提供自由市场经济理论的培训。
Mr. Obama told the graduates that much has changed in the last 20 years. And, he talked about at length about just how the United States sees the future of relations with its former Cold War adversary.
奥巴马对该校的毕业生说，过去20年里，世界格局出现了很大的变化。他阐述了美方如何看待与俄罗斯这个冷战时期的对手今后的关系。
"To begin with, let me be clear: America wants a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia," he said. "This belief is rooted in our respect for the Russian people and a shared history between our nations that goes beyond competition."
他说：“首先，我要说明的一点是，美国希望看到俄罗斯强大、和平、繁荣。这一信念源于我们对俄罗斯人民的尊重、源于我们两国之间超越竞争关系的历史上的往来。”
He said the old Cold War assumption that America and Russia can only exist as antagonists who compete for spheres of influence is wrong.
奥巴马说，冷战期间那种思维，即美苏两国只能作为扩大势力范围的竞争对手，是错误的。
"That is why I have called for a "reset" in relations between the United States and Russia. This must be more than a fresh start between the Kremlin and the White House - (al)though that is important and I have had excellent discussions with both your president and prime minister," said President Obama. "It must be a sustained effort among the American and Russian people to identify mutual interests and to expand dialogue and cooperation that can pave the way to progress."
他说：“这就是为什么我希望美国和俄罗斯之间的关系能够进入一个崭新的局面。要做到这一点，不是说两国政府之间从头开始就足够了，虽然这也很重要，而且我和贵国总统和总理之间也举行了非常良好的会晤；但是，美国人民和俄罗斯人民之间也必须要长期努力，着眼于共同利益，扩大对话和合作，为两国关系的改善打下基础。”
But the president made clear that, in his search for common ground, he is not going to set aside principles that he thinks are important.
与此同时，奥巴马总统明确表示，在寻求共同点的同时，他不会将重要的原则和理念弃置不顾。
He talked about human rights and matters of national sovereignty - issues that have created friction with Moscow in the past.
他在讲话中谈到了人权问题以及一个国家的主权问题，这些都是让美国和俄罗斯之间产生过摩擦的话题和领域。
"Just as all states should have the right to choose their leaders, states must have the right to borders that are secure and to their own foreign policies. That is true for Russia, just as it is true for the United States," he said. "Any system that cedes those rights will lead to anarchy. That is why this principle must apply to all nations - including Georgia and Ukraine."
他说：“就如所有国家的人民都应该有权选举他们的领导人一样，所有国家都应该有权保护边界的安全，实施自主的外交政策；对于俄罗斯、对美国来说，都是一样。一个不允许所有国家实施上述主权的体系必将导致国际局势的混乱。上述原则涵盖世界上所有的国家，包括格鲁吉亚和乌克兰。”
Russia is vehemently opposed to the notion of NATO membership for the two former Soviet bloc countries. President Obama says he does not seek to impose a security arrangement on any nation. He noted Ukraine and Georgia must still clear many hurdles to be eligible for alliance membership. And, he stressed once again that NATO seeks collaboration with Russia, not confrontation.
俄罗斯方面对格鲁吉亚和乌克兰这两个前苏联集团成员国希望加入北大西洋公约组织(北约)的诉求表示强烈反对。奥巴马总统说，他并不希望把某个安全框架强加给任何一个国家。他并且指出，乌克兰和格鲁吉亚还需要扫清很多障碍才有资格加入北约。他再次强调说，北约组织希望与俄罗斯合作，而不是对抗。 |