2006年VOA标准英语-Russian WTO Bid Remains Stalled

By Lisa McAdams
St. Petersburg
15 July 2006

Russian and U.S. trade negotiators have failed to reach agreement on Russia's accession into the World Trade Organization, but presidents Putin and Bush say they remain committed to the goal of Russia's eventual¹ membership.  At the same time, the two leaders did forge an agreement to fight nuclear terrorism and held constructive² discussions on Russia's road to democracy.

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President George W. Bush, left, starts his bilateral³ meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, July 15, 2006  
  
Russia's long-held desire to become a member of the World Trade Organization remains⁴ just a dream as U.S. and Russian negotiators failed to narrow differences that would have allowed
Russia's membership.

It had been hoped that intensive efforts by negotiators in the days leading up to the summit would break the logjam and allow a formal announcement of Russia's entry into the world body that sets global trade rules.

In a joint⁵ press conference with the Russian president Saturday, President Bush sought to downplay concerns that the lack of an agreement had anything to do with Russia's politics on issues like Iran, Iraq or North Korea.

"We want Russian accession into the WTO, that's what we want, but there's more work to be done.  But you've just got to understand, the intention to reach an agreement is there," said Mr. Bush.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was noticeably more muted on the topic, calling the negotiations⁶ lengthy⁷ and complicated.  But he says Russia will continue to stand up for and pursue, what he called, our national interest.

Mr. Putin also said Russia would determine for itself the best course and manner in which to pursue its stated commitments to democracy.  Here are his comments as spoken through a translator:

"It is true that we assume that nobody knows better than us how we can strengthen our own nation, but we know for sure that we cannot strengthen our nation without developing democratic institutions," he said.  "And this is the path we will certainly take, but certainly we will do this by ourselves."

At the same time, President Putin said he welcomes such discussions as useful.  As he put it,democracy-building proves difficult for all nations, and is a universal problem, not just for
Russia. 

In the run-up to the Summit, there were widespread calls by Russian civil society and some high-level bipartisan critics in the United States that Mr. Putin should be taken to task for what some see as his roll-back on Russian democracy.  There were even calls for a Bush boycott⁸ of the G-8.

But President Bush says he prefers to remain engaged with the man he calls, "my friend Vladimir."  A White House statement says the two sides were able to agree on a global initiative to fight nuclear terrorism.

However, the lack of an agreement on Russia's accession to the WTO took some experts by surprise.  They predict the failure to reach agreement will likely stall the Doha round of global trade talks.

But a senior U.S. administration official, briefing on background, says a lot of progress was made in the past couple of days.  The official says negotiators virtually closed agreement on one of the key sticking points, industrial tariffs⁹.  Remaining issues are said to include U.S. access to Russian markets for beef and pork.

Both sides predict a deal could come in the next three months.

1 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

2 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

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 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 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。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

8 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

9 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。