VOA标准英语2008年-US, Czech Republic Sign Controversial Missile R

The United States and the Czech Republic have signed an agreement that will allow construction of part of a missile defense¹ shield. Stefan Bos from Budapest that the document was signed by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Czech counterpart, despite mounting opposition² against the project.
　
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (l) and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (r) shake hands after signing a preliminary missile defense agreement at the Cernin Palace in Prague, 08 Jul 2008

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg signed a deal to build a radar³ station southwest of Prague, which will be part of a missile-defense system the United States says is aimed at shooting down missiles that may be fired from Iran or North Korea.

Besides the tracking radar system in the Czech Republic, the United States plans to deploy⁴ 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. Washington wants the sites to be in operation by 2012.

Talks are reportedly also under way to station up to 250 American troops in the Czech military base in Brdy, to service the radar station.

But the agreement faces major political hurdles⁵. The accord has to be ratified⁶ by a divided Czech parliament where the government has just half the chamber's 200 seats.

In addition, opinion polls show two-thirds of Czechs opposing the project and there have been demonstrations⁷ and hunger strikes against the plan.

Analysts⁸ say there is general mistrust towards foreign powers in the Czech Republic, which this year commemorates⁹ the 40th anniversary of the invasion by the Soviet¹⁰ Union that crushed a period of political and economic reforms, known as the Prague Spring.

Another concern is Russia's opposition towards the missile-defense system, saying it would pose a threat to its own security. Moscow has threatened to aim its own, potentially nuclear, missiles at any eventual¹¹ base in the Czech Republic or Poland.

But speaking at a news conference, Secretary Rice tried to play down these concerns, saying the missile-defense system would not only benefit the United States.

"This missile defense agreement is significant as a building block, not just for the security of the United States and of the Czech Republic, but for the security of NATO and ultimately for the security of the international community as a whole because we do face important threats," she said.

She ruled out going to neighboring Poland after talks with Warsaw appeared to break down over that country's demands for billions of dollars to modernize¹² its army and air defenses. Rice said earlier negotiations¹³ had been constructive¹⁴, but would not predict whether the two sides would reach a deal.

She is to travel to Bulgaria and Georgia on her European trip this week.

　

 

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 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

4 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

5 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

6 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

7 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

8 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。

9 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

11 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

12 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

13 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。

14 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。