VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Calls for Withdrawal of Russian Troops fro

U.S. President George Bush says Russia may be violating the terms of a cease-fire in Georgia less than a day after agreeing to stop the fighting in the former Soviet¹ republic. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, the president spoke² amid reports that a Russian military convoy³ had pressed deep into Georgian territory.
　
George Bush makes a statement about the Georgia-Russia conflict from the White House, 13 Aug 2008

President Bush says he expects Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia and withdraw all forces that have entered the country in recent days.

"We are concerned about reports that Russian units have taken up positions on the east side of the city of Gori, which allows them to block the east-west highway, divide the country, and threaten the capital of Tbilisi," the president said. "We are concerned about reports that Russian forces have entered and taken positions in the port city of Poti, that Russian armed vehicles are blocked access to that port, and that Russia is blowing up Georgian vessels⁴."

Flanked by his secretaries of State and Defense⁵ in the White House Rose Garden, President Bush said the United States stands with Georgia's democratically-elected government.

"We insist that the sovereignty and territorial⁶ integrity of Georgia be respected. Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal," he said. "The United States and the world expect Russia to honor that commitment."

Mr. Bush spoke earlier with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and with French President Nicolas Sarkozy who negotiated the ceasefire. That deal calls for the withdrawal⁷ of forces from the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and free access for humanitarian⁸ aid workers.

The president says he is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Paris for further consultations⁹ with President Sarkozy and on to Tblisi where Mr. Bush says Rice will personally convey America's unwavering support for Georgia's government.

"On this trip, she will continue our efforts to rally the free world in the defense of a free Georgia," Mr. Bush said.

The president says the U.S. military will lead a humanitarian mission to Georgia and he expects Russia to honor its commitment to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports¹⁰, airports, roads, and airspace remain open for the delivery of assistance and for civilian¹¹ transit¹².

Mr. Bush says Russia's actions raise serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and in the region. The president says the United States has previously¹³ supported Russian efforts to better integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic, and security structures of the 21st century.

"Now, Russia is putting its aspirations¹⁴ at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions," President Bush said. "To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis."

The United States has called for a emergency meeting of NATO foreign ministers to discuss the crisis. NATO says the meeting could take place early next week and that Russia will not attend in its observer status.

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

4 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 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。

6 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。

7 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

8 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

9 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 seaports   

n.海港( seaport的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner. 机场和海港一样成为来访的外国人的入境关口。 来自互联网
• Sanya has 16 seaports, 10 islands and 180km of coastline. 三亚有16个港口、10个海岛和180公里的海岸线。 来自互联网

11 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

12 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

13 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

14 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。