VOA标准英语2009-Top US Military Officer Arrives in Moscow fo

The top U.S. military officer is in Moscow for talks on missile defense¹, arms control and other issues in advance of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to the Russian capital in 10 days.
　
Admiral Mike Mullen, (file photo)

The Chairman of the Joint² Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said the U.S. desire to put a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, which Russia strongly opposes, will be a key topic of his talks in Moscow.

"Clearly the issue of missile defense is something that's been a significant topic and issue for Russia and the United States and that will, I'm sure, be something that we talk about," he said.

The admiral said he will be seeking a better understanding of the Russian military's view of the missile defense plan, which top Russian political leaders have sharply criticized.

Mullen's talks come just days after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said there will be no progress on broader arms control talks unless the United States abandons the European missile defense plan. The renewal³ and expansion of a strategic arms reduction treaty that expires in December will be the primary topic for the Obama-Medvedev summit.

U.S. officials say the missile defense system does not threaten Russia or its defenses, but rather is designed to counter the growing missile threat from Iran.

But Admiral Mullen says while missile defense and arms control will be on his agenda when he meets senior Russian military officers and defense ministry⁴ officials during the next two days, he believes there are also many other topics to discuss.

"We have areas of common interests, whether it's security interests in Afghanistan, the area of piracy⁵, the area of terrorism," he said. "Those are the kinds of things that I'm sure we'll have robust⁶ discussions on. And there will I'm sure be discussions on the areas we differ on. And I think it's important to continue those discussions as well to understand each other's positions."

This is Admiral Mullen's first visit to Moscow as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But because of the importance of security issues for the upcoming U.S.-Russia summit, a spokesman says President Obama has taken the unusual step of asking Admiral Mullen to return to Moscow in early July to join him at those meetings.

1 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。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 piracy   

n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害

参考例句：

• The government has already adopted effective measures against piracy.政府已采取有效措施惩治盗版行为。
• They made the place a notorious centre of piracy.他们把这地方变成了臭名昭著的海盗中心。

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。