2007年VOA标准英语-US Responds to Putin's Call for Meeting on Forc

By Al Pessin
Washington
29 May 2007

A Pentagon spokesman says the United States would be "disappointed" if Russia stopped meeting its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. The comment came the day after Russia called for a meeting of the treaty's signatory nations next month. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

Vladimir Putin (file photo)

At his daily briefing, Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman responded to President Putin's call for a meeting. "The U.S. position on this is that we would be disappointed at any suggestions that Russia might cease to implement² its obligations under the CFE Treaty. NATO, as you know, places a high value on the treaty's contribution to European security," he said.

At the State Department, a spokesman told reporters the Conventional Forces treaty has served the international community well, but that it is Russia's right to call a meeting and U.S. officials will be happy to attend.

Russia wants a three-day meeting starting on June 12 in Vienna.

The 1990 treaty regulates the size and composition of conventional military forces in Europe. It resulted in a reduction of Cold War era forces facing off against each other on the continent. The treaty was amended³ in 1999, but some countries have refused to ratify⁴ the amended version until Russia withdraws its forces from Georgia and Moldova.

Russia rejects the idea of connecting those two issues, but President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to suspend Russia's participation⁵ in the treaty and has threatened to withdraw from it permanently⁶. The statement Monday calling for the meeting said Russia has been adhering to the amended treaty, while other signatories have refused to ratify it. The statement also cites the expansion of NATO into areas formerly⁷ under the influence of the Soviet⁸ Union.

Russia's concerns about the treaty are also widely seen as related to its opposition⁹ to U.S. plans to put parts of its new missile defense¹⁰ system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The White House reports President Bush and President Putin spoke¹ about several issues during a phone conversation on Monday, but did not say whether missile defense or the Conventional Forces treaty were among them. The two men will meet next week in Germany during the annual Group of Eight summit.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

4 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

7 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。

8 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。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 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。