VOA标准英语2008年-New Russian Leader Talks of Reform

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
07 May 2008
 

As president-elect of Russia, Dmitri Medvedev has made several public statements about the rule of law and importance of civil society, private property, and free media for the people of his nation.  His remarks imply a basic lack of freedom in his country.  VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky examines Mr. Medvedev's words about freedom and whether he can translate them into deeds after his inauguration¹ on Wednesday.

In February before he won the presidential election, Dmitri Medvedev said freedom in all its forms - personal, economic and expressive² - is better than no freedom.  He also pledged to fight corruption³, which he characterized as Russia's worst disease.

"It is very important to understand that availability of justice, the general right to freedom and achievements in fighting corruption are integral to the right citizens have to get true information," he said.  "We must defend the real independence of mass media, which provides feedback between civil society and various branches of power."

Viktor Kremenyuk, Deputy Director of Moscow's USA-Canada Institute, says Mr. Medvedev's remarks differ from those made by outgoing President Vladimir Putin.

"He sounded like Thomas Jefferson. Freedom is the top value," said Kremenyuk.  "This is something different from what we have heard the last eight years, so I say if he is serious, that means, of course, there will be an attempt to change the sequence of events."

Dmitri Medvedev says Russia needs to reform its infrastructure⁴ and institutions.  But independent Moscow political analyst⁵ Alexander Konovalov notes a paradox:  Mr. Medvedev seeks to change entrenched⁶ bureaucratic⁷ interests that are not only opposed to reform, but which also brought him to power. 

"He cannot be unaware⁸ how dubious⁹ the last parliamentary election was; how dubious the last presidential election was," Konovalov said.  "He won't commit political suicide by destroying the system which elevated him to the pinnacle¹⁰ of power." 

While Mr. Medvedev has called for media reforms, Alexander Konovalov notes that Russian print journalism¹¹ is already surprisingly free of censorship.  Television, however, remains¹² under tight Kremlin control. 

"Control of public perceptions means television," he said.  "Authorities today are convinced of that and they maintain very strict control over television."

Members of the Russian opposition¹³ have been seeking access to television, saying it would give them an opportunity to compete for power.

Russian radio talk show host Yevgenia Albats says it is difficult to predict whether Mr. Medvedev will be able to keep his reform promises.

"It's really hard to say whether we do, whether we are going to have a new president, whether we are going to have a puppet in the Kremlin and president Putin who will become prime minister will keep a grip over all power structures in this country. I don't know the answer yet," said Albats.

The answer will slowly emerge after Mr. Medvedev gains presidential power.  He will, however, have less of it than his predecessor¹⁴.  Vladimir Putin, transferred some presidential powers to the office of prime minister, which Mr. Putin will assume after leaving Kremlin.

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 expressive   

adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的

参考例句：

• Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
• He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 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。

5 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。

6 entrenched   

adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯)

参考例句：

• Television seems to be firmly entrenched as the number one medium for national advertising.电视看来要在全国广告媒介中牢固地占据头等位置。
• If the enemy dares to attack us in these entrenched positions,we will make short work of them.如果敌人胆敢进攻我们固守的阵地，我们就消灭他们。

7 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。

8 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

9 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

10 pinnacle   

n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰

参考例句：

• Now he is at the very pinnacle of his career.现在他正值事业中的顶峰时期。
• It represents the pinnacle of intellectual capability.它代表了智能的顶峰。

11 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

13 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。

14 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。