2006年VOA标准英语-Georgian Regions of Abkhazia, South Ossetia Cau

By André de Nesnera
Washington
11 October 2006

Tensions remain high between Russia and Georgia, after Georgia released last month four military officers arrested on spying charges - an accusation¹ rejected by Moscow. The Russian government retaliated² by imposing³ economic sanctions against Georgia. In this background report from Washington, VOA Senior Correspondent André de Nesnera looks at one major problem between the two countries: the issue of the autonomous⁴ Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

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Abkhazia is located in the northwestern corner of Georgia while South Ossetia is situated⁵ in the north-central part of that country. Both areas border Russia.

Robert Legvold, a Russia expert with Columbia University, says both regions are de facto independent states, although no country has recognized their independence.

"They - in the case of Abkhazia, use the Russian ruble as the principal currency," he said. "If there is economic intercourse⁶, it's more with Russia and elsewhere than it is with Georgia. Critical transport links are broken. And although Georgia has recently reasserted authority over a portion of Abkhazia - an area called the Kodori Gorge⁷ - for the most part, Georgia's authority, or writ⁸, simply does not extend to the territory. And its basic position - the Abkhaz leadership - is that they wish independence from Georgia. In the case of South Ossetia, which is linked to an ethnically¹⁰ related region to the north in Russia called North Ossetia, their desire is for separatism that would lead to autonomy, allowing them to be integrated into Russia. So they are different on that score from Abkhazia."

 
Mikhail Saakashvili (file photo) 
  
A major source of friction¹¹ between Moscow and Tbilisi is the presence of Russian troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Ostensibly, they are there as peacekeepers, but Tbilisi says their presence only reinforces separatist sentiments there - a charge rejected by Russian officials. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has called for Russian troops to be replaced by an international force, but the world community has been unresponsive.

Vladimir Putin  
  
Experts say Russian President Vladimir Putin has added a new twist to the debate by linking the issue of Abkhaz independence to the status of Kosovo - a province in southern Serbia currently under the administration of the United Nations.

"This is the most dangerous end game in the current crisis because by the end of the year, the United Nations is likely to pass some kind of resolution on the question of Kosovo independence," said Russia expert Robert Legvold. "And Putin for some time has been saying - because the Russians are opposed to doing so - has been saying that if that passes, then that changes the legal standing¹², or the potential legal standing, in how Russia would deal with these breakaway territories. Not just Abkhazia, but Trans-Dniestria in Moldova. And when Saakashvili was in the United States [in July], he was - in private meetings - was desperately¹³ concerned that the Russians in fact may use a Kosovo independence resolution as a cover for extending recognition to Abkhazia."

Experts say regions within Russia - such as Chechnya - could also push for international recognition following a U.N. resolution on independence for Kosovo.

But Olga Oliker from the RAND Corporation says not every region in the world can claim independence.

"Just because you have a clear ethnic⁹ base of a population doesn't necessarily mean that you should have national borders surrounding that ethnic base," she said. "Some regions are more sustainable and more viable¹⁴ than others for a host of reasons, some of them economic and some of them political. You could also look at Kurdish regions in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria - and that same argument comes up. And the fact of the matter is there are good political reasons why these regions have not been independent in the past. And yes, it is fair to revisit them from time to time, but it's also fair to occasionally decide that no, it's not appropriate for these regions to be independent."

Georgian President Saakashvili has vowed¹⁵ to bring the secessionist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia back into the country. But experts say at this time, it does not seem that goal will be attained¹⁶ anytime soon.

1 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

2 retaliated   

v.报复，反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• When he once teased her for her inexperience, she retaliated. 有一次，他讥讽她没有经验，她便反唇相讥。 来自辞典例句
• The terrorists retaliated by killing three policemen. 恐怖分子以杀死三名警察相报复。 来自辞典例句

3 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

4 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

5 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

6 intercourse   

n.性交；交流，交往，交际

参考例句：

• The magazine becomes a cultural medium of intercourse between the two peoples.该杂志成为两民族间文化交流的媒介。
• There was close intercourse between them.他们过往很密。

7 gorge   

n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃

参考例句：

• East of the gorge leveled out.峡谷东面地势变得平坦起来。
• It made my gorge rise to hear the news.这消息令我作呕。

8 writ   

n.命令状，书面命令

参考例句：

• This is a copy of a writ I received this morning.这是今早我收到的书面命令副本。
• You shouldn't treat the newspapers as if they were Holy Writ. 你不应该把报上说的话奉若神明。

9 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

10 ethnically   

adv.人种上，民族上

参考例句：

• Ethnically, the Yuan Empire comprised most of modern China's ethnic groups. 元朝的民族成分包括现今中国绝大多数民族。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• Russia is ethnically relatively homogeneous. 俄罗斯是个民族成分相对单一的国家。 来自辞典例句

11 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

12 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

13 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

14 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。

15 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

16 attained   

（通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况）

参考例句：

• She has attained the degree of Master of Arts. 她已获得文学硕士学位。
• Lu Hsun attained a high position in the republic of letters. 鲁迅在文坛上获得崇高的地位。