New data shows that arms transfers to the Middle East have increased by 38 percent during the past five years, compared to the previous five. The data show the United States, Russia and Germany remain the world's largest arms exporters.
新的数据显示，过去5年间，出口到中东地区的武器跟之前的5年相比，增加了38%。资料显示，美国、俄罗斯和德国依然是世界上最大的武器出口国。
The report by the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows the volume of arms transfers worldwide increased by 21 percent during the group's latest five-year reporting period.
斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所的报告显示，过去5年来世界范围内武器转运的数量增加了21%。
Arms transfers had been at their lowest level since the 1960's during the previous reporting period between 1999-2003.
相对来看，前一个5年，就是1999到2003年期间，武器转运是1960年代以来水平最低的一个时期。
The list of top arms exporters has remained constant for many years, as Paul Holtom, the Head of SIPRI's Arms Transfer Program explains.
斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所武器转运项目负责人保罗.霍尔特姆说，最大武器出口国名单多年来一直没有变动。
"The top five suppliers, that is the U.S.A, Russia, Germany, France and the U.K. (United Kingdom), they are mainstays really in those positions. They switch around sometimes, but you know, the U.S.A. and Russia are really in a league of their own," said Holtom.
“5大供应国， 美国、俄罗斯、德国、法国和英国。它们一直保持了这样的位置。有时候，大家的位置也有会变换，但是你知道，美国和俄罗斯同属一类。”
Russian arms exports were 14 percent higher from 2004-2008 than the previous five years, largely due to increased deliveries to Asia, Africa and Latin America. Holtom says increasing oil prices during that period, which have since leveled off, appear to be one of the factors that contributed to increased purchases of conventional weapons.
2004年到2008年期间，俄罗斯的武器出口比前5年增加了14%，很大程度上是因为亚洲、非洲以及拉美地区的武器进口增加。霍尔特姆说，那段时间高涨的石油价格看起来是常规武器购买增加的因素之一。石油价格后来趋于平缓。
"In recent years we have seen oil-rich states in the Middle East, and also Algeria and Venezuela really rise in the rankings, as they have had the funds to be able to pay for the modernization, upgrading and re-equipping of their armed forces," said Holtom.
他说：“近年来，我们看到中东富产石油的国家、阿尔及利亚、委内瑞拉等国的排名都有提升。它们有资金，有能力支付武装部队的现代化，让武装部队的装备升级或是更新换代。”
Holtom said it is hard to predict what impact falling oil prices and the global economic crisis will have on the global arms trade in the years ahead. But he said there are early signs of some countries cutting back on their purchases.
霍尔特母说，很难预测石油价格的下跌和全球金融危机在未来几年会对全球武器贸易产生何种影响，但是，他说，不过已经有一些早期的迹象显示，有些国家已经在削减武器的购买。
"For example, Malaysia has cut orders for helicopters. And we are seeing Brazil, which we thought was going to emerge as a big recipient, re-assessing its position on whether it is going to go ahead with some of these big deals."
“例如，马来西亚削减了购买直升机的订单。我们也看到巴西在重新审议几宗大的交易，看看是否还要继续下去，我们原想巴西可能会成为一个大的武器进口国。”
But Holtom said if you look back to the Great Depression in the 1930's, arms sales actually increased.
但是，霍尔特姆说，回顾1930年代的大萧条时期，那时的武器购买实际上增加了。
The SIPRI reports show there were increasing volumes of arms transfers from 2004-2008 in states involved in armed conflict including Afghanistan, Georgia, Israel, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所的报告显示，2004年到2008年期间，那些卷入武装冲突的国家，包括阿富汗、格鲁吉亚、以色列、巴基斯坦以及斯里兰卡，这些国家的武器转运数量都有所增加。 |