VOA标准英语2009-Mullen Welcomes Kyrgyz Base Decision, Talks

The top U.S. military officer has welcomed progress toward reversing the Kyrgyz government decision to end U.S. use of a key base for supplying the allied¹ mission in Afghanistan.
　
Admiral Michael Mullen, head of US Joint² Chiefs of Staff and Gen. Nikolai Makarov, chief of Russia's General Staff in Moscow, 26 Jun 2009

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen said he discussed that and other controversial issues during meetings in Moscow Friday with senior Russian defense³ officials.

Admiral Mullen welcomed the Kyrgyz parliament's approval of a new lease for the base at Manas, reversing an order to leave issued by the Kyrgyz parliament and government earlier this year. Reports from Kyrgyzstan said the rent will be $60 million a year, more than triple the previous rent, and that there will be restrictions⁴ on exactly how the base can be used. But Admiral Mullen said the new accord will enable the United States to continue supplying the allied effort in Afghanistan, which is at a critical stage.

"It will do what's necessary. It's a critical base. There were other options, but this option is one that because it is in place and because physically⁵ where it is, it's a very viable⁶ option for us, and so I'm very pleased with what I see as a lot of progress to creating the change which will allow us to stay there," he said.
　
U.S. soldiers patrol Manas Air Base, located near the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (file photo)

Admiral Mullen said during Friday's meeting, his Russian counterpart General Nikolai Makarov welcomed the development, as Russia's President Dmitriy Medvedev did on Thursday, even though Russia had opposed U.S. use of the Kyrgyz base in the past. The admiral said General Makarov also indicated Russia wants to keep the land supply route through its territory open, which is used for non-lethal items.

Admiral Mullen had wide-ranging defense talks with General Makarov and other top Russian officials. He said there was agreement on many issues, including the need to stabilize⁷ Afghanistan. But the admiral said the two sides disagreed on other issues, including the U.S. plan to build missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic, known as the 'third site.'

"One of the most difficult issues is the missile defense issue, the third site, and we certainly didn't solve that. We recognize that that's being handled at the political level, and particularly in the United States where we're undergoing a missile defense review that won't be completed until later this year," he said.

The admiral said General Makarov repeated President Medvedev's position that there will be no agreement to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty when it expires in December unless President Barack Obama abandons the Bush administration's plan to build the European missile defense system. The United States says the system is designed to defend against Iran's growing missile capability⁸, and would not be a threat to Russia.

Admiral Mullen also confirmed that early next month, during the U.S.-Russia summit in Moscow, he and General Makarov will sign an agreement to expand U.S.-Russian military cooperation.

"He and I are very committed to making this work plan actionable, with concrete steps, so that we can actually turn the discussions into meaningful, substantive⁹ output that strengthens the relationship," said the admiral.

This will be another step toward normalizing U.S.-Russian military relations following a freeze caused by Russia's invasion of Georgia last year. Admiral Mullen said all the Russian officials he met with on Friday were interested in doing that.

"They know the significant upside of having the United States and Russia aligned¹⁰, and I think, by implication, they understand the downside in a pretty dangerous world," Mullen added.

Admiral Mullen said Russian officials particularly want to work with the United States to fight the drug trade and the global terrorist threat, both of which are related to the effort to defeat the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

1 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

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 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。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

6 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

7 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

8 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

9 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

10 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。