美俄将签署叙利亚空中安全协定

 　　U.S. and Russian defense¹ officials have concluded a third round of talks on rules for conduct in the air over Syria – and are finalizing² a memorandum³ of understanding that will establish basic safety rules and avoid inadvertent collisions.

　　The U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement that "progress was made" during the video conference Wednesday, which "focused narrowly on the implementation⁴ of specific safety procedures."

　　The Russian Defense Ministry⁵ reported a "convergence" of positions "on key provisions of the future document."

　　Both parties agreed that the talks were "professional" and that the agreement is nearing completion.

　　US, Russia Note Progress in Syria Air Safety Talks

　　Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the United States declined to take part in broader talks about coordination⁶ in Syria that would have involved either country sending a high-level delegation⁷ to the other's capital.

　　A U.S. State Department spokesman said he did "not have anything specific" on the proposal. John Kirby also said the U.S. continues to show a willingness to talk with Russian authorities.

　　Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the proposal at a forum⁸ on Tuesday, saying his side would have been led by Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev and included military and security officials.

　　U.N. envoy⁹ for Syria Staffan de Mistura is pushing a separate effort to get the U.S. and Russia on the same page in working toward a broad political resolution to the crisis in Syria. He met with officials Tuesday in Moscow and was scheduled to hold talks Wednesday in Washington.

　　Russian airstrikes

　　Meanwhile, Russia said its warplanes carried out at least 40 more bombing rounds Wednesday on Islamic State targets in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama and Deir ez-Zor.

　　Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said one of its fighter jets approached a U.S. warplane in Syrian airspace last week only for identification purposes. Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the Russian jet came within two to three kilometers of the U.S. plane in Aleppo province on a mission that was not intended to scare or provoke anyone. He said the Russian jet then returned to its fighting group.

　　Aleppo offensive

　　Russian airstrikes have helped Syrian government troops regain¹⁰ territory, but the United States has criticized its campaign as targeting mostly rebel fighters and not Islamic State militants¹².

　　Reuters quoted two senior regional officials Tuesday as saying the Syrian army soon would launch an offensive on the northern city of Aleppo along with Russian air support and fighters from the Lebanese militant¹¹ group Hezbollah and Iran. The officials cited a "large mobilization" of Syrian troops and thousands of Iranians.

　　Two prominent U.S. senators used the report to further criticize what they have characterized as a weak policy in Syria from President Barack Obama.  Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who have promoted sending U.S. ground troops to Syria, said the Aleppo offensive "would be the latest low point for the administration's disgraceful Syria policy."

　　Russian embassy hit

　　Also Tuesday, militants fired rockets at Russia's embassy in Damascus in what Lavrov, the foreign minister, called an "act or terror" meant to intimidate¹³ those who support the fight against the Islamic State group.

　　Two rockets struck the embassy compound while hundreds of people rallied outside in support of Russia. There was no word on damage or casualties.

　　The attack is not the only backlash against Russia. Security officials there said Monday they had arrested several people plotting to target the Moscow transportation system who had IS ties.

　　'Eye for an eye'

　　An Islamic State spokesman posted an online message Tuesday "calling on Muslims everywhere" to launch a jihad against Russia and the U.S. "Russia will be defeated," IS spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani said in a recording¹⁴ posted online.

1 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。

2 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

3 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

4 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

5 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。

6 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

7 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

8 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• 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。

9 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

10 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

11 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

12 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

13 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

14 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。