2006年VOA标准英语-Georgian President Foresees NATO Invitation

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
31 May 2006

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says he is optimistic that his country will eventually be invited to join NATO.  Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from Paris, where NATO officials have recommended that the organization intensify¹ talks with Tbilisi.

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Mikhail Saakashvili, with Georgian state emblem² in background, speaks during celebrations marking Independence Day in Tbilisi, May 26, 2006 
  

President Saakashvili says he believes Georgia fulfills³ the criteria⁴ for membership in NATO, although he acknowledges the 26-member alliance is experiencing a kind of "membership fatigue⁵" after admitting seven Eastern European countries in 2004.

Answering questions at the French Institute for International Relations in Paris, Mr. Saakashvili said that Georgia's NATO membership offered Europe, in particular, a number of advantages.  Among them: access to the Black Sea and to Central Asia, and the chance to forge closer ties with Middle Eastern countries.

Georgia is eager to join NATO and the European Union - although Mr. Saakashvili admitted it would be difficult to join the European bloc⁶ in the near future.

NATO may be another matter.  Georgia is one of 20 countries with a special partner status with the alliance. 

Georgian media report that during a meeting in Paris this week, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly recommended that member governments launch a so-called intensified⁷ dialogue with Georgia this summer.  The talks are considered the first step to possible membership.

Mr. Saakashvili, 38, was elected Georgia's president two years ago, following a popular uprising that ousted⁸ long-time leader Eduard Shevardnadze.

In wide-ranging remarks, President Saakashvili called for more European involvement in resolving Georgia's separatist conflicts, and he defended Georgia's record in tackling corruption⁹ and judicial¹⁰ reform.  Critics say more reforms are needed.

1 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

2 emblem   

n.象征，标志；徽章

参考例句：

• Her shirt has the company emblem on it.她的衬衫印有公司的标记。
• The eagle was an emblem of strength and courage.鹰是力量和勇气的象征。

3 fulfills   

v.履行（诺言等）( fulfill的第三人称单数 )；执行（命令等）；达到（目的）；使结束

参考例句：

• He always fulfills his promises. 他总是履行自己的诺言。 来自辞典例句
• His own work amply fulfills this robust claim. 他自己的作品在很大程度上实现了这一正确主张。 来自辞典例句

4 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

5 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

6 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

7 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。