2006年VOA标准英语-Latvian Leader Urges US to Use Persuasive

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
07 June 2006

In an address to the U.S. Congress, the president of Latvia has said the United States needs to use persuasion¹, as well as force, as it continues to promote democracy around the world.  President Vaira Vike-Freiberga also looked ahead to the NATO summit to be held in the Latvian capital, Riga, later this year.

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Addressing a joint² meeting of Congress, the Latvian leader paid tribute to U.S. support for the democratic aspirations³ of people in the Baltic states, central and eastern Europe.

 

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga  
  

"Latvia remains⁴ grateful to the United States for the firm refusal to recognize the illegal occupation of the three Baltic countries," she said.  "Along with the other formerly⁵ captive nations of central and eastern Europe, we thank America for its steadfast⁶ and courageous⁷ stand on freedom and democracy."

With the exception of Belarus, President Vike-Freiberga said a wave of freedom and democratic reform has spread as countries accept the need for the rule of law and respect for human rights.

She noted⁸ her personal history as a former exile, whose family fled Latvia to escape the Soviet⁹ occupation in 1945 who had the privilege of returning to her country to help it "rise from the ashes of oppression."

Latvia was admitted to NATO in 2004, with its Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, as well as Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.  Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are expected to receive invitations at the November NATO summit in Riga.

President Vike-Freiberga noted Latvia's contributions to multinational¹⁰ forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo, saying the November summit, the first to be hosted by a former Soviet republic, will reflect the rejuvenation¹¹ and transformation¹² of NATO.

In praising the U.S. role in support of liberty, the Latvian president said the spread of terrorism and growing signs of intolerance and xenophobia underscore the urgent need for a meaningful and sustained dialogue between civilizations.

She had this to say about the American role.

"The United States has become a world leader only to the extent that it has not been indifferent to the fates, the aspirations and the opinions of other nations," she said.  "For if no man is an island, neither is any country alone and self-sufficient.  All of us, large and small, we are interlocked, intertwined and interdependent.  If we want peace in the world, if we want international cooperation, persuasion is as important as imposition by force."

The Latvian leader said her country wants a friendly, future-oriented and pragmatic partnership¹³ with Russia based on mutual¹⁴ respect, non-interference and true respect for human rights. 

Her talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice focused on the NATO summit as well as the upcoming summit of the world's seven richest countries and Russia in Saint Petersburg,  as well as requests by Latvia and other new EU member states that the U.S. expand its visa waiver program

1 persuasion   

n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派

参考例句：

• He decided to leave only after much persuasion.经过多方劝说，他才决定离开。
• After a lot of persuasion,she agreed to go.经过多次劝说后，她同意去了。

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 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

6 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

7 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 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。

10 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

11 rejuvenation   

n. 复原，再生, 更新, 嫩化, 恢复

参考例句：

• Prolonged starvation and aging might lead to rejuvenation of embryogenic potential. 长期的饥饿和衰老可以导致胚胎发生能力的复壮。
• All this signs rejuvenation of agriculture. 所有这些都预示着农业将复苏。

12 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

13 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

14 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。