VOA常速英语2008年-US Calls Russian Action on Georgia 'Political M

By David Gollust
State Department
16 April 2008

The United States Wednesday reaffirmed support for Georgia's territorial¹ integrity after Russia said it was setting up legal ties with two Georgian separatist regions. A State Department official called the Russian action on Abkhazia and South Ossetia "political mischief²." VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Officials here say they're trying to clarify just what the Russian announcement on the two breakaway Georgian areas really means. But in the meantime, the State Department is underscoring U.S. political support for Georgian sovereignty.

The Russian foreign ministry³ said Wednesday President Vladimir Putin has instructed the ministry to recognize the legality of some documents issued by authorities in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and to cooperate with them on trade and other matters.

The Russian ministry said the action was to protect the interests of people living in the areas including Russian citizens, and that it does not mean Moscow is choosing confrontation⁴ with Georgia.

The Georgian government, nonetheless, met in emergency session and called the Russian action part of a defacto annexation⁵ process violating international law.

The Bush administration, which has forged close ties with the government of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, had a measured response.

State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack declined to directly characterize the Russian action but stressed U.S. backing for the Tbilisi government.

'We're still examining what it is that they [Russia] are in effect proposing to do. But in the meantime, I will reiterate⁷ our unshakable support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia," he said.

A senior diplomat⁸ here, speaking on terms of anonymity⁹, described the Russian action as "political mischief" and said he believed Moscow is "trying to stir things up."

South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which border Russia and have large ethnic-Russia populations, have resisted control from Tbilisi since Georgia - a former Soviet¹⁰ republic - became independent.

Moscow announced the actions on the separatist areas two weeks after NATO angered Moscow at its Bucharest summit by offering Georgia a plan for eventual¹¹ membership.

Russia also opposed the recognition by the United States and key allies of Kosovo independence in February, and warned that it might ignite separatist sentiment in places like the two Georgian regions.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop¹² Scheffer said Wednesday the Russian steps undermine Georgian sovereignty and urged Moscow to reverse them.

European Union chief diplomat Javier Solana spoke⁶ by telephone with Georgian President Saakashvili and expressed his concern.

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

5 annexation   

n.吞并，合并

参考例句：

• He mentioned the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910 .他提及1910年日本对朝鲜的吞并。
• I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to the United States and Texas.我认为合并的问题，完全属于德克萨斯和美国之间的事。

6 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。

7 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。

8 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。

9 anonymity   

n.the condition of being anonymous

参考例句：

• Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密，书中的人用的都是化名。
• Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。

10 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。

11 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。

12 hoop   

n.（篮球）篮圈，篮

参考例句：

• The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
• The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。