2007年VOA标准英语-US-Russia Relations Under Microscope

By Bill Rodgers
Washington
22 June 2007
 

A top U.S. diplomat¹ says Washington is puzzled and concerned by some recent Russian statements and actions -- but wants to work with Moscow to address problems.  The diplomat's comment came on a day when lawmakers at two Congressional hearings examined U.S. relations with Russia and the future of Russian democracy.  More from VOA's Bill Rodgers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's words and actions in recent months have caused concern in Washington. Differences have arisen over issues such as missile defense² and Russian government attempts to suppress internal dissent³.

Daniel Fried (file photo)

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, State Department official Daniel Fried spoke⁴ about the relationship. "Russia today is not the Soviet⁵ Union.  As President Bush has said, 'The Cold War is over.'  But the world has recently witnessed statements and initiatives from Russia that puzzle and concern us."

Among those concerns are comments from the Kremlin threatening to suspend Russian obligations under the CFE -- an arms control treaty.  Also, Russia's opposition⁶ to U.S. plans to install a missile defense system in Eastern Europe to prevent attacks from rogue⁷ states.

Another worry is suppression of anti-government protests and curbing⁸ press freedom.  Fried vowed⁹ Washington will continue to press Moscow on those issues. "We must simultaneously¹⁰ advance our interest and values, pushing back when necessary while seeking to broaden and deepen cooperation with Russia."

Meanwhile, members of Russia's parliament, or Duma, attended a special hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  The Russian and U.S. lawmakers exchanged views on issues such as democracy and human rights.

Konstantin Kosachev, Russia's Chairman of the Duma's International Affairs Committee (second left) looks towards House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (l), 21 Jun 2007

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi welcomed the Russian representatives.  "It's a great day for us when our two parliaments, your Duma, and our Congress, manifested by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on our part and your Duma's appropriate committee, can come together to communicate on matters of great importance," she said.

Speaker Pelosi handed out gifts to the Russian visitors.  Later, the head of the Duma's foreign affairs committee, Konstantin Kosachev spoke of the need for better understanding.  But he also objected to criticism of Russia by what he called "one-sided sources." "We're always grateful for constructive¹¹ criticism when it is justified¹².  However, in some cases, this criticism is based on unilateral one-sided sources, subjective¹³ sources. And we can't accept such criticism especially if it becomes some kind of personal characterizations which are unacceptable, especially when they are directed at the head of the Russian government, we do not accept this kind of criticism under any circumstances."

Despite the tensions, Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin remain on friendly personal terms. Mr. Putin is scheduled to visit the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, early next month where the two leaders will likely use the informal setting to discuss outstanding issues, including a Russian proposal aimed at resolving differences over the missile defense system.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

8 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

9 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

10 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

11 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。

12 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

13 subjective   

a.主观(上)的，个人的

参考例句：

• The way they interpreted their past was highly subjective. 他们解释其过去的方式太主观。
• A literary critic should not be too subjective in his approach. 文学评论家的看法不应太主观。