2006年VOA标准英语-Russia Prepares to Host G8 Summit in St. Peters
时间:2019-01-16 作者:英语课 分类:2006年VOA标准英语(七月)
By Lisa McAdams
Moscow
12 July 2006
Eight years after becoming a member of the Group of Eight industrialized nations, Russia is set to host the annual G8 Summit in St. Petersburg - President Vladimir Putin's hometown. It is a significant achievement for Mr. Putin, who has made restoring pride in all things Russian a hallmark of his presidency 1. That pride will be on evidence when he rolls out the red carpet this weekend, to visiting world leaders from the United States, Britain, China, Japan, Italy, France and Germany. But some fear the summit could produce heightened tensions between Russia and the West.
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Russian policeman guards giant decoration for upcoming G8 summit
G8 leaders earlier agreed that the Summit agenda will focus on three areas of global concern: energy security, education and the fight against infectious diseases. But for Russia, a more personal issue takes precedence - that of proving itself worthy 2 on the world stage.
Yevgeni Volk of the Heritage Foundation's Moscow office tells VOA Russia wants to ensure, above all else, that it suffers no embarrassing political attacks during the high profile summit. Volk says, as Russians see it, it has already come under increasingly harsh criticism from the West about backtracking on human rights and democracy.
He says Russia also stands accused of using its growing energy riches as political blackmail 3 against energy-starved neighbors such as Georgia and Ukraine. Volk says he does not think President Putin will react to criticism lightly.
"He will try to involve them into a kind of discussion to persuade them that Russia is doing okay, that everything is being done right, that they, themselves, have many things to do to change inside their countries," he said. "I believe he will mention some human rights abuses in the United States, [and] the situation in France, where Muslim protesters had demonstrations 4 last year. So, he will not be on the defensive 5, but will try to conduct some kind of offensive, as well.
Vladimir Putin
Analyst 6 Masha Lipman, of Moscow's Carnegie Institute, says the Russian president's tougher line has already been touted 7, in the weeks leading up to the summit.
"More or less, the statement is, 'this is how we are.' We do not think anything is wrong with it and we will not allow anyone to tell us to change and to dictate 8 how we should go about our internal affairs," Lipman said.
Lipman says what is driving that message is, in part, the lack of a universal consensus 9 among Group of Eight leaders on how Russia should be treated. In the absence of such a consensus, she says she is more optimistic than her colleague, analyst Volk, that President Putin will pull off a problem free summit.
"I think what is also important is that, in spite of all expectations, [President] Bush has not resorted to open criticism of Russia, lately," Lipman said. "So, I think, if we are to judge by the signs, it doesn't look like Bush is prepared to sound as critical as his top-ranking aides. I think probably [Mr.] Bush wants to preserve his good relations with [Mr.] Putin, in order to resolve the issues of major critical importance for the United States - first and foremost, Iran."
The United States would like to see Russia use its influence with Iran to get it to agree to halt its controversial uranium enrichment program, which the United States fears could be used to build a nuclear weapon. But, here again, Volk says the summit may do more to highlight differences between Russia and the West, rather than showcase their similarities.
"I believe that the questions of energy; how to deal with the Iraq crisis; how to deal with the Iran situation; how to deal with North Korea and its ambitions in the field of weapons of mass destruction; what should be the cooperation between Russia and the U.S. in the fight against terrorism: what should be the mode of operations in Central Asia, how to deal with new post-Sovietstates in Trans-Caucasian areas..... on all these issues, Russia and America have rather different views," he said.
Analysts 10 agree the areas where the summit agenda does merge 11 are few and include efforts to fight world poverty; halting the spread of HIV/AIDS; and boosting nuclear non-proliferation efforts around the world.
It is also widely believed that the United States may approve Russia's accession into the World Trade Organization; either right before the summit, when the Russian and American presidents are scheduled to meet Friday, July 14, or during the course of the weekend.
Meanwhile, an estimated 1,500 anti-globalization protesters are also expected in St. Petersburg, where they plan to hold what they call an alternative summit on the sidelines of the G8.
During past summits, tens-of-thousands of activists 12 have participated in sometimes violent protests. But organizers of the alternative forum 13 say they will stick to discussing the same issues of concern as the G8 ministers.
With the city hosting so many high profile visitors, police in Saint Petersburg are not taking any chances, closing the airport and port during the three-day event. Authorities have also tightened 14 security at a nearby nuclear power plant, as well as launched a weapons amnesty program just days before the summit. This, after Russian police said they had discovered a small weapons cache in a building situated 15 along a main road to be used by visiting G8 leaders.
Security concerns aside, President Putin's top summit envoy 16, Igor Shuvalov, says that, by the end of the summit, officials hope to see full acknowledgement that Russia is a valued and equal member of the Group of Eight.
- Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
- Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
- I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
- There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
- She demanded $1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
- The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。
- Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
- The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。
- Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题,使她警觉起来。
- The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。
- 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。
- She's being touted as the next leader of the party. 她被吹捧为该党的下一任领导人。
- People said that he touted for his mother and sister. 据说,他给母亲和姐姐拉生意。 来自辞典例句
- It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
- What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令?
- Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗?
- What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么?
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
- I can merge my two small businesses into a large one.我可以将我的两家小商店合并为一家大商行。
- The directors have decided to merge the two small firms together.董事们已决定把这两家小商号归并起来。
- His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
- Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
- The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。
- The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
- His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机,然后又松开了。
- 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。