VOA常速英语2017--副总统彭斯在爱沙尼亚发表讲话（在线收听）

On his recent trip to Estonia, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated America's support for Estonia,Latvia and Lithuania saying, America stands with the nations and the people of the Baltic States—and always will.

近日出访爱沙尼亚期间，美国副总统彭斯重申美国会支持爱沙尼亚、拉脱维亚和立陶宛。他表示，美国支持波罗的海三国及其人民，并将永远如此。

For the better part of the last century, the Baltic nations were occupied by the Soviet Union, which tried to eradicate the identity, traditions, and language of the people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Throughout those years of brutal occupation, the United States refused to recognize the Soviet Union's annexation of the Baltic States.

上个世纪的大部分时期，波罗的海三国都被苏联占领着。苏联企图抹去爱沙尼亚、拉脱维亚和立陶宛人民的身份、传统和语言。这些年苏联残暴占领期间，美国一直拒绝承认苏联对波罗的海三国的吞并行径。

Thirteen years ago, the Baltic States joined NATO. Today, Estonia is one of five nations that meet the NATO benchmark of spending at least 2 percent of GDP on defense. By the end of 2018, Latvia and Lithuania will join Estonia in meeting this goal.

13年前，波罗的海三国加入了北约组织。如今，爱沙尼亚是为数不多的5个满足北约基准的国家之一，该基准就是将GDP的至少2%用于国防建设。2018年年底之前，拉脱维亚和立陶宛也将实现这个基准目标。

As the U.S. Vice President noted, the specter of aggression from Russia still looms large in the region. At this very moment, said Vice President Pence, Russia continues to seek to redraw international borders by force, undermine the democracies of sovereign nations, and divide the free nations of Europe one against another.

正如副总统所说，俄罗斯侵略的魔爪依然在该地区影响深远。副总统彭斯表示，在这个特别的时刻，俄罗斯依然企图用武力来重新规划国际边界，破坏主权国家的民主，让欧洲各个自由国家之间彼此分裂。

President Trump has called on Russia to cease its aggression in Ukraine and will continue to hold Russia accountable for its destabilizing actions.

特朗普总统呼吁俄罗斯停止对乌克兰的侵略，并将继续让俄罗斯为自己破坏稳定的行为负责。

The preference of the United States is a constructive relationship with Russia based on common interests. Russia, too, has said that it would like to normalize relations with the United States. But the President and Congress are unified in their message: A better relationship and the lifting of sanctions will require Russia to reverse the actions that caused sanctions to be imposed in the first place.

美国倾向于与俄罗斯构建一种基于共同利益的建设性关系。而俄罗斯也表示愿意与美国实现正常化的关系。但特朗普总统和国会都在一件事情上达成了一致：要促进两国关系并解除制裁，首先需要俄罗斯转变导致制裁的行为。

Be assured, said Vice President Mike Pence, The United States rejects any attempt to use force, threats, intimidation, or malign influence in the Baltic States or against any of our treaty allies. The United States will stand firmly behind its collective defense obligations under NATO's Article 5.

副总统彭斯表示，请大家放心，美国拒绝任何依靠暴力、威胁、恐吓和恶意影响的企图，无论是对波罗的海三国还是对我们通过协定缔结的盟友。美国将坚定致力于其在北约第5条款下共同承担国防责任的承诺。

As President Trump made clear in Poland, the fight begins with our minds, our wills, and our souls. If we steel our minds, strengthen our wills, and refresh our souls, the West will never, ever be broken. Our values will prevail. Our people will thrive, our civilization will triumph.

正如特朗普总统在波兰明确表示的那样，这场战斗始于我们的思维、意志和灵魂。如果我们强化自己的意志，抖擞我们的精神，那么西方国家将永远坚不可摧。我们的价值观将风靡全球。我们的人民将福祉不断，我们的文明将屹立不倒。