VOA标准英语2009年-Medvedev: Russia to Develop New Nuclea

Photo: AP
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev seen on television screens in an electronics shop during his interview in Moscow, 24 Dec 2009

 

In his end of the year speech, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says his country will develop a new generation of nuclear weaponry, even as it works toward a new strategic arms treaty with the United States.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev's comments were broadcast on Russia's state-run television networks. 

Russia and the United States are continuing to hammer out the details of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.  The current treaty expired earlier this month, and senior U.S. and Russian officials say they expect to reach a new accord in early January.

President Medvedev says that negotiations¹ have been tense.

He says in some aspects, Russia is putting slight pressure on its partners, by saying this or that is unacceptable.  He goes on to say that even though Moscow is working on, and will sign a new treaty, the Kremlin will nevertheless work on the development of its strategic assault forces because Russia cannot protect itself without this.

Mr. Medvedev said new missile technology will be developed in full accordance with any new arms agreements reached with Washington, but that other weapons are necessary.

He says Russia's nuclear shield allows it to solve all the problems, which it has to solve.  He says of course Russia will develop new systems, including delivery systems, that is, missiles.  He says it is quite normal and that the whole world is doing this.

The Russian leader also praised U.S. President Barack Obama's recent call for a nuclear-weapons-free world, calling it a "beautiful and right goal."  But he said movement toward that objective should be gradual and should require other nuclear-armed countries to cut their arsenals² as well.

President Medvedev said he is encouraged by the discussions.

He says, anyway we are moving forward very quickly, we have already agreed almost on all issues."

Mr. Medvedev used the TV broadcast to touch on a host of other topics, chief among them the environment and the economy.  State-owned media quote the president as saying he is dissatisfied with this month's global-warming summit in Copenhagen, calling it "a lot of hot air."  He said Russia will none-the-less continue to push for domestic energy efficiency and cuts in carbon emissions³.

The president also said Russia has survived the global economic crisis with no major losses.  He said the country could see its gross domestic product grow by 2.5 to five percent in 2010, "in an optimistic scenario⁴."
 

1 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。

2 arsenals   

n.兵工厂，军火库( arsenal的名词复数 )；任何事物的集成

参考例句：

• We possess-each of us-nuclear arsenals capable of annihilating humanity. 我们两国都拥有能够毁灭全人类的核武库。 来自辞典例句
• Arsenals are factories that produce weapons. 军工厂是生产武器的工厂。 来自互联网

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。