VOA标准英语2008年-Britain Urges Russia Not to Start New Cold War

On a trip to Ukraine, Georgia was the main talking point as Britain's Foreign Secretary met with President Yushchenko and others. David Miliband's visit came just a day after Russia's president recognized the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He also urged Russia not to start a new Cold War. For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from London.
　
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (l) shakes hands with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband in Kiev, Ukraine, 27 Aug 2008

Foreign Secretary David Miliband rejected Moscow's recognition of the two Russian-leaning regions of Georgia and he called for an international coalition¹ to counter what he called Russian aggression².

Miliband said the response by the European Union and NATO should be hard-headed engagement.

He said that means, in practical terms, that building a coalition of nations that denounce the Russian actions. He also said it means rebalancing the energy relationship with Russia and to defend the rules of international institutions.

Later at the Kiev news conference, the Foreign Secretary urged Moscow to change its course in Georgia.

"We have talked a lot today about Russia," he said. "We are united in our view that her actions over the last two weeks have been damaging not just to international stability but also to the respect with which Russia and the trust that Russia holds around the world."

Miliband said he and his Ukrainian colleagues agreed that Russia's action in the two Georgian breakaway regions is an attempt by Moscow to redraw the map of the area, and he said it represents a moment of real significance.

"We both want to defend international rules that respect the sovereignty, the integrity and the democracy of nation states," said Miliband.

Miliband once again defended the use of diplomacy³ to resolve the situation, as he rejected calls for Moscow to be removed from the so-called Group of Eight industrialized states. But he did suggest that the European Union and NATO should now urgently review relations with Moscow.

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

3 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。