VOA标准英语2008年-Georgia-Russia Tensions Continue to Simmer

By Andre de Nesnera
Washington
20 May 2008

Tensions remain high between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In this report from Washington, VOA Senior Correspondent André de Nesnera describes recent developments there and looks at whether a new Russian president might defuse the strained relations between Moscow and Tbilisi.

Abkhazia is located in the northwestern corner of Georgia while South Ossetia is situated¹ in the north-central part of that country. Both areas border Russia.

Ronald Suny, from the University of Chicago, says under international law, both regions are considered part of Georgia.

"The problem, however, is that at the end of the Soviet² period and at the beginning of the period of Georgian independence, both of these regions rebelled against the central Georgian government which was then in a kind of fiercely nationalist mood - and de facto made themselves independent entities³ under the protection of the Russians," he said. "There was a lot of fighting, people migrated out of the area, Abkhazia came under the control of the Abkhaz leadership, [South] Ossetia under the Ossetians - and both of them are being protected by the Russians. There has been a ceasefire, though occasionally there are some clashes since 1994."

Tensions between Georgia and Russia increased last month when Moscow decided⁴ to step up its commercial and political ties with the two separatist regions - moves that infuriated the Georgians.

Another major source of friction⁵ between Moscow and Tbilisi is the presence of Russian troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Ostensibly, they are there as peacekeepers. But Tbilisi says their presence only heightens separatist leanings there - a charge rejected by Russia.

In late April, tensions intensified⁶ even further when an unmanned Georgian reconnaissance plane - or drone - was shot down over Abkhazia. Georgia officials say it was brought down by a Russian fighter plane, but Moscow denies any involvement. Several other drones have been shot down in recent weeks.

Heightened tensions have forced Russia and Georgia to increase the number of troops in the area with each side accusing the other of bringing the region to the brink⁷ of war.

Many experts, including Ronald Suny, say neither side wants a major conflict in that volatile⁸ region.

"Obviously, the Georgians don't want a war. It seems to me that they would face certain defeat by the Russians - humiliation⁹ perhaps," he said. "On the other hand, the Russians don't want clashes in that area, when in fact very nearby at Sochi, they are already preparing for [the] Winter Olympics [in 2014]. Clashes in a nearby region would jeopardize¹⁰ that sporting event. So all in all, this is a very unfortunate event - both drifting toward a clash that neither of them actually wants at the moment."

Many analysts¹¹ say a contributing factor to strained relations between Tbilisi and Moscow was the strong personal animosity between Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and former Russian president - now prime minister - Vladimir Putin. Experts say a lot will depend on the relationship between Mr. Saakashvili and the new Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, inaugurated May 7.

Robert Legvold from Columbia University doesn't see any sign of a positive change in relations.

"I don't think it's going to be easy because the attitude on the part of the Russians toward Saakashvili really is very widespread," he said. "And that is, they see him as reckless, as hot-headed, as very anti-Russian, as somebody who from the beginning has really cast his lot with the West and in a way that's anti-Russian. And that's not just a Putin attitude. Medvedev seems a milder personality and in the first part of his term he certainly doesn't want a military conflict with Georgia. So I think the politics of it argues for some degree of restraint on Medvedev and the Russians' part and Putin's part. But the personality issue is not going to go away because it's much more widespread than simply Saakashvili and Putin."

Jason Lyall from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs agrees, saying he sees no change in relations between Tbilisi and Moscow despite a new Russian president.

"I really think that Medvedev is going to work within the strictures of a Putin foreign policy for the conceivable future, at least until he consolidates¹² his own power position at home," he saysid. "So I don't think we're going to see any drastic changes. Now there may not be the personal animosity between Medvedev and Saakashvili that was there under Putin, but I still think you're going to see very much the continuation of a Putin-style foreign policy."

Many analysts say the problems between Russia and Georgia can be solved. But they say leaders of both countries must be willing to compromise - a quality that up to now has been lacking both in Moscow and Tbilisi.

1 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

2 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。

3 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

6 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

8 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

9 humiliation   

n.羞辱

参考例句：

• He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
• He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。

10 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

12 consolidates   

巩固

参考例句：

• We've made a good start, now it's time to consolidate. 我们有了一个良好的开端，现在应该加以巩固。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Yuan Shih-k'ai, a would-be Oriental Bonaparte, now attempted to consolidate his power. 当时，一度可能成为东方波拿巴的袁世凯试图巩固他的权力。 来自英汉非文学 - 新闻报道