VOA标准英语2010年-EU, Russia Discuss Economy, Internatio

From right, EU President Herman van Rompuy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talk durng a boat trip on the Don River in Rostov-on-Don, 31 May 2010

Russia and the European Union have concluded a summit that focused on economic and trade issues, but failed to reach agreement on visa-free travel for Russian citizens in Europe.  Both sides are also calling for an impartial¹ investigation² into Monday's Israeli commando raid on a ship carrying humanitarian³ aid for the Gaza Strip.

 

Summit host, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, told a final summit news conference in the city of Rostov-on-Don that participants reviewed cooperation between Russia and the European Union on such matters as high tech, energy efficiency, green growth, and climate change.  Russia did not get a long-awaited okay for visa-free travel by its citizens to the EU.  However, both sides confirmed the importance of Russian membership in the World Trade Organization.  Mr. Medvedev noted⁴ Russia is the only member of the G20 that does not belong to the WTO.  He said the decision is up to others, including the United States.

The Kremlin leader says Russia's ongoing⁵ WTO discussions with America are not simple.  He says it is time for everyone, including the United States, to decide that Russian WTO membership is not a carrot that is always offered as a sort of prize for good behavior.

Russian behavior did come up during the summit.  EU President Herman Van Rompuy praised Mr. Medvedev's ambition to modernize⁶ Russia by encouraging civil society as a significant development for the country. 

"However, the situation for human rights defenders⁷ and journalists in Russia is of great concern to the European public at large," said Van Rompuy.  "Another matter of concern, which I know is shared by the president, is the climate of impunity⁸, particularly in Chechnya and other areas of the North Caucasus."

Summit participants welcomed the new U.S.-Russian Strategic Arms Reduction Agreement, and agreed that Iran's nuclear program remains⁹ a source of concern.  EU President Van Rompuy said the purpose of international sanctions against Iran is to bring it back to the negotiating table.  The summit also issued a joint¹⁰ declaration regarding Israel's operation on Monday against an aid flotilla to Gaza.

"We regret the loss of lives during the Israeli military operation against the flotilla sailing to Gaza," Mr. Van Rompuy added. "We demand a full and impartial inquiry¹¹, and call for an immediate¹² opening of crossings for the flow of  humanitarian aid, commercial goods, and people to and from Gaza."

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said people and economies are ever more connected and interdependent in today's fast-changing world.   He noted economies rely not only on regulations and common standards, but also on the rule of law, civil society and other values.
 

1 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

7 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

9 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。

10 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。

11 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

12 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。