VOA标准英语 Russia Hails First Obama-Medvedev Meeting

Russia says strategic stability, international security, non-proliferation, and cooperation against emerging threats are among the interests Moscow shares with the United States. The Kremlin is also offering a positive assessment¹ of Wednesday's meeting between Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitri Medvedev, which the Russian Foreign Ministry² is characterizing as a truly significant event that symbolizes³ the resetting⁴ of U.S.-Russian relations.
　
US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev during their meeting ahead of G20 summit in London, 1 Apr 2009

Speaking at a Moscow news conference, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said the first meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev, set the basis for practical cooperation between the two countries. Nesterenko also said the meeting fulfilled expectations.

Referring to the joint⁵ statement issued by the presidents, Nesterenko reiterated⁶ several areas of cooperation, including strategic arms reduction. The spokesman said it is possible for both sides to negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Agreement in the little time remaining before the current one runs out in December.

Nesterenko says if there is persistence⁷, political will, and genuine desire to make a qualitative⁸ move away from the level of relations that characterized recent years and away from the standstill that affected⁹ the bilateral¹⁰ agenda, then a new treaty is entirely¹¹ within reach.

Some observers are concerned that complicated technical details, the sheer volume of work and possible legislative¹² hurdles¹³ could delay ratification¹⁴ of a new START agreement.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman says Russia is prepared to cooperate with NATO, but rejects new dividing lines in Europe that he says the organization could create, especially if Ukraine and Georgia were to join the organization.

Nesterenko says much will depend on the form and mission that result from NATO's announced transformation¹⁵ process, which is far from complete. He notes that under today's circumstances, the possibility of Russian NATO membership is not a practical question.

Referring to President Obama's new Afghan strategy, spokesman Nesterenko said some points require greater detail, but in general, it is well grounded and thought out.

He says first of all, the strategy emphasizes a stronger regional factor, and a greater variety of approaches that integrate military measures with civil, social and economic efforts.

President Dmitri Medvedev has said Russia is seeking improved cooperation with the United States. He will serve as host when Mr. Obama visits Russia in July.

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 resetting   

v.重新安放或安置( reset的现在分词 )；重拨（测量仪器指针）；为（考试、测试等）出一套新题；重新安置，将…恢复原位

参考例句：

• Range represents the maximum strain which can be recorded without resetting or replacing the strain gage. 量程表示无需重调或重装应变计就能记录到的最大应变。 来自辞典例句
• Adding weight to the puddle jumper by resetting its inertial dampeners. 通过调节飞船的惯性装置来增加重量。 来自电影对白

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

7 persistence   

n.坚持，持续，存留

参考例句：

• The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
• He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。

8 qualitative   

adj.性质上的，质的，定性的

参考例句：

• There are qualitative differences in the way children and adults think.孩子和成年人的思维方式有质的不同。
• Arms races have a quantitative and a qualitative aspects.军备竞赛具有数量和质量两个方面。

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

12 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

13 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

14 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

15 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。