VOA标准英语2008年-European Union Mulls Sanction Options Against R

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the European Union is considering sanctions against Russia following its recognition of independence for the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. France has called an EU meeting Monday in Brussels to focus on what steps the 27-member bloc¹ will take in terms of future relations with Russia. For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from London.
　
Bernard Kouchner

Bernard Kouchner says sanctions are a possibility among other unspecified means, but he adds the current impasse² must be solved through negotiations³.

Moscow's recognition of the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia lies at the core of its dispute with the West.

France has called an emergency European Union summit for Monday to discuss what it might consider to do collectively in light of Russia's refusal to pull back all of its troops from Georgia.

Meanwhile in Brussels, Moscow's ambassador to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, was asked at a news conference if he felt that the 27-nation body might actually levy⁴ some form of sanctions on Russia.

"I would not want to speculate on the outcome of the European Council, of course, I can only express the wish that the leaders, European leaders, heads of state and government of the European Union will be able to rise above the emotions of the day and consider, seriously and without prejudice the perspectives of strategic partnership⁵ with their important partner, the Russian Federation," said Chizhov.

Chizhov says sanctions would worsen relations between Russia and West and he says if they were to be implemented⁶, they would actually hurt the West more than any pain that Russia might incur⁷.

"First of all, I highly doubt that might ever happen, but theoretically speaking, hypothetically speaking, this would be to the detriment⁸ of the European Union, as much if not more, than to Russia," said Chizhov.

Just more than 60 percent of Russia's oil and gas exports go to the European Union, and EU leaders are well aware that higher prices could be one unwelcome outcome of imposing⁹ sanctions on Moscow.

Some European states, like Germany, have taken the view that the European Union should moderate its response if it wants to assume a mediator¹⁰ role to try to persuade Russia to pull back its troops, to accept international peacekeepers and to eventually strike a long-term solution acceptable to all.

1 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

2 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

5 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

6 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

7 incur   

vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇

参考例句：

• Any costs that you incur will be reimbursed in full.你的所有花费都将全额付还。
• An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.一个企业为了维持营业,就不得不承担一定的费用和开支。

8 detriment   

n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源

参考例句：

• Smoking is a detriment to one's health.吸烟危害健康。
• His lack of education is a serious detriment to his career.他的未受教育对他的事业是一种严重的妨碍。

9 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

10 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。