VOA标准英语2010-Russia, Venezuela Strengthen Economic, Po

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin receive military honors at the Presidential palace Miraflores in Caracas, 02 Apr 2010

Russia and Venezuela are forging closer ties. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced earlier this week (Monday) in Caracas that his country could sell Venezuela up to $5 billion worth of weapons.  That's on top of $4 billion in arms that Venezuela previously¹ purchased from Russia. Some analysts² are warning of where the close relationship will lead.

A welcoming ceremony decked out in red for the two leaders, meeting in Caracas.   Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on his first visit to the South American country and his host, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

They talked about cooperation on a satellite launch site to begin Venezuela's space program.  A joint³ venture on oil exploration in eastern Venezuela.  And, a nuclear power plant.

 

"We have talked about nuclear energy, and we're ready to start drawing up the first plan of a nuclear power plant, obviously with peaceful aims," Mr. Chavez said.

"One question, why nuclear?  Long term investment, very expensive," Peter DeShazo questioned the details. He's  the director of the Americas program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There's not a whole lot of transparency in all this, so it's pretty hard to determine really how much money is being spent, has been spent, is to be spent, what the details of all these agreements really are.  None of this is all that clear," he added.

In the past five years, Venezuela has purchased $4 billion of Russian arms, including fighter jets, Mi-17 helicopters  and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles. The Russian prime minister said after this trip, Venezuela will buy $5 billion more in Russian weaponry.  The United States wants to know why. 

"We are hard pressed to see what legitimate⁴ defense⁵ needs Venezuela has for this equipment," State Department Assistant Secretary P.J. Crowley said.

Michael Shifter is president of a Washington foreign policy group.  He says the world should be concerned about Venezuelan motives⁶ for all that firepower. "It has sort of a belligerent⁷ quality to it and that can lead to I think reckless conduct, that can lead to serious consequences, so I think it is a problem," Shifter said.

Mr. Chavez has said the purchases are to counter U.S. influence in Latin America, especially in Colombia. But the Russian motivation is a bit different.  Experts, including Mr. Putin himself, say it's mainly a commercial venture and Russia is filling a void.

"If the United States does not want to sell its military equipment to other countries, and in particular Venezuela, well it's difficult for him to hear, but it's good for us, and long may it continue - as we say in Russia, there's always someone to fill a vacancy," Putin stated.

Some think Russia also wants to prove its strength, especially in America's backyard....Latin America. But the promises of more arms and agreements for space programs, oil and nuclear power come at a time when both Russia and Venezuela face monumental internal problems.

"There's no electricity and no water for the people Chavez represents, the poorest people," Shifter said. "I think it's very hard to take seriously that pledge that he's going to move in that direction." 

Meantime,  the two men are seriously reinforcing their relationship. Mr. Chavez, ended their Caracas meeting, by giving Mr. Putin the Simon Bolivar sword -- the symbol of Venezuela's independence.
 

1 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。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 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。

4 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

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 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

7 belligerent   

adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者

参考例句：

• He had a belligerent aspect.他有种好斗的神色。
• Our government has forbidden exporting the petroleum to the belligerent countries.我们政府已经禁止向交战国输出石油。