VOA标准英语2013--俄罗斯代表团访问埃及

 

Russian Delegation¹ to Visit Egypt 俄罗斯代表团访问埃及

CAIRO — A high-ranking Russian delegation arrives in Egypt Wednesday, a visit suggesting a possible shift in alliances as tensions between Egypt and the United States grow. But some analysts³ believe that if Egypt expands its foreign relations, it could be a boon⁴ to everyone involved. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's and Defense⁵ Minister Sergei Shoigu's mission in Cairo is to boost economic, political and security ties.

The visit comes as relations between Egypt and its long time ally, the United States, appear at a crossroads, with Washington cutting aid after the military ouster of President Mohamed Morsi.

The prospect⁶ of Egypt shifting its allegiance has revived memories of the height of Moscow-Cairo ties.

The Cold War alliance brought Egypt a massive infusion⁷ of military hardware, improvement of infrastructure⁸, and the Aswan Dam, a huge leap for the previously-energy hungry nation.

But in the 1970's, amid crippling debt and a peace push from the U.S over Cairo's relations with Israel, Egypt switched sides.

Fresh ties with Moscow comes as many Egyptians, in a wave of neo-nationalism, are chafing⁹ at being perceived as Washington's errant junior partner. Mai Wahba, spokeswoman for the activist¹⁰ group Tamarod, said not only Russia but China and others could all be possible allies.

She said Egypt won't lean toward one side or the other, but "whoever respects the will of the Egyptian nation will be respected by us."

But the U.S. rift¹¹ can be deceptive¹².  Washington has maintained cooperation in key areas, such as counterterrorism, and security in the Sinai Peninsula.

Moreover, says political analyst² Hisham Kassem, talk of billion dollar arms deals with Russia makes no sense in a country that already has more weapons than it needs. "If such a deal was [to go] through, and I'm positive it's not, it would really mean arms in warehouses¹³.  There is no use for them," he added.

Kassem also dismisses talk of a Russian sea base in Egypt, should Moscow lose its only Mediterranean¹⁴ port in war-torn Syria.  Even the Americans, he noted¹⁵, were unable to get such a deal.

Egyptian officials are also downplaying any strategic realignment.  "I see relations with Russia expanding considerably¹⁶, being diversified¹⁷ in as many ways as possible.  But I don't see them as an alternative to anybody else," said Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy.

And some say that is a good thing.

"It could be very productive for everybody, including the United States, if Egypt is to play its role in diplomacy¹⁸ again. A situation like the Syrian crisis could have been handled much better," Kassem explained. "Instead of finding ourselves irrelevant¹⁹ and unable to contribute in any way to that."

Kassem believes an Egypt with greater regional and international ties will help it regain²⁰ its footing as an important - and useful - regional player. 

1 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 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。

4 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

5 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。

6 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

7 infusion   

n.灌输

参考例句：

• Old families need an infusion of new blood from time to time.古老的家族需要不时地注入新鲜血液。
• Careful observation of the infusion site is necessary.必须仔细观察输液部位。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 chafing   

n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒

参考例句：

• My shorts were chafing my thighs. 我的短裤把大腿磨得生疼。 来自辞典例句
• We made coffee in a chafing dish. 我们用暖锅烧咖啡。 来自辞典例句

10 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

11 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

12 deceptive   

adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• His appearance was deceptive.他的外表带有欺骗性。
• The storyline is deceptively simple.故事情节看似简单，其实不然。

13 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。

14 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

15 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。

16 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

17 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

19 irrelevant   

adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的

参考例句：

• That is completely irrelevant to the subject under discussion.这跟讨论的主题完全不相关。
• A question about arithmetic is irrelevant in a music lesson.在音乐课上，一个数学的问题是风马牛不相及的。

20 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。