VOA标准英语2014--On The Scene: Elizabeth Arrott in Simferopol, Ukraine

 

On The Scene: Elizabeth Arrott in Simferopol, Ukraine 

Crimea's regional government is going ahead with plans to hold a referendum on breaking away from Ukraine and joining Russia.  But with Russian troops and pro-Russian self-defense forces in control of the peninsula, those in favor of Crimea remaining in Ukraine say it couldn't possibly be fair.  

Crimea’s pro-Moscow politicians have been out rallying support for Sunday’s referendum - giving the people of the Ukrainian peninsula a choice between joining Russia, or restoring Crimea's 1992 constitution and its status as an autonomous¹ republic of Ukraine.   

Like all members of the new, pro-Russia parliament, Deputy Sergei Tsekov came out in favor of uniting with Moscow.

“We will be happy in one week’s time because we will do what we have been waiting to do for many, many years,” he said.

At this and other rallies, pro-Russia sentiment is strong.

 “I want for our Crimea to reunite with Russia.  The Crimean land is Russia," said Simferopol resident Alexander Oseev. 

Crimea has a long history with Moscow, and the majority of its population is ethnic² Russian. But with the region under the control of Russian and pro-Russian forces, the idea of a free and fair vote is, to some, absurd.

While Russia denies its forces have moved beyond its leased bases in Crimea, columns of unidentified but widely believed to be Russian military vehicles move freely around the peninsula.

Pro-Russian self-defense groups are now joined by new Crimean Special Forces, sworn in this week by the region’s pro-Moscow prime minister in the name of ensuring stability ahead of the referendum.

“The most cynical³ thing in history is when people have to make a choice under the gun, when they are afraid about their children, their family,” said Refat Chubarov, a leader of Crimea’s Tatar minority.

Ukrainian leaders have condemned⁴ the vote, saying it violates national sovereignty, a position supported by Western allies, and should not be recognized as legal.

“I’m absolutely certain that this referendum could be recognized by North Korea and probably Syria, and that’s it," interim⁵ Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk told reporters. "We are appealing to Russia, the Russian Federation⁶, to cancel immediately the referendum which is going to take place on the territory of the Crimean Autonomous Republic which is an inseparable part of Ukraine."

 

But such words so far appear to have made very little difference to what is happening on the ground.

1 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 cynical   

adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的

参考例句：

• The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大，他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
• He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

6 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。