U.S. President Barack Obama said halting the nuclear weapons threat from Iran would reduce the need for a planned missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. But Mr. Obama denied he has told Russia he will rethink the missile shield program if Moscow puts pressure on Tehran.
美国总统奥巴马说，阻止来自伊朗的核武器威胁将会降低计划中在东欧部署导弹防御系统的必要性。奥巴马否认他告诉俄罗斯，如果莫斯科向德黑兰施加压力，他会重新考虑这项导弹防御计划。
The president said he brought up areas of mutual concern in a recent letter to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev - including missile defense and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
奥巴马总统说，他在最近给俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫的信中提到一些共同关心的问题，包括导弹防御计划和伊朗的核野心。
"What we had was a lengthy letter talking about a whole range of issues - from nuclear proliferation to how are we going to deal with a set of common security concerns," he explained.
奥巴马说：“我们在这封很长的信中讨论了广泛的问题，从核扩散到我们如何应对一系列共同关心的安全问题。”
But Mr. Obama denied U.S. news reports that said he told the Russian leader that he would rethink the missile shield if Moscow got Tehran to stop developing nuclear and long-range weapons.
有美国媒体报导说，奥巴马告诉俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫，如果莫斯科能让德黑兰放弃发展远程核武器，他会重新考虑目前的导弹防御计划。奥巴马否认报导的内容。
The president said there was no offer of action in the letter.
他说，信里没有提到采取什么行动。
"It was simply a statement of fact that I have made previously, which is that the missile defense program, to the extent that it is deployed, is designed to deal with, not a Russian threat, but an Iranian threat," said the president.
奥巴马说：“这封信只不过是陈述我以前讲过的话，那就是导弹防御系统，就目前部署的程度，其目的不是为了对付来自俄罗斯的威胁，而是为了对付来自伊朗的威胁。”
Washington's plan to deploy missile interceptors in Poland and a radar installation in the Czech Republic has angered Moscow.
President Medvedev has said he is expecting some specific proposals from the Obama administration. And the subject is likely to be on the agenda when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Geneva on Friday.
俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫表示，他期待着奥巴马政府拿出一些具体的方案。俄罗斯外长拉夫罗夫跟美国国务卿希拉里.克林顿星期五在日内瓦会谈时可能会谈到这个问题。
Speaking at the start of a meeting at the White House with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, President Obama appeared optimistic that U.S- Russia relations will improve on his watch.
奥巴马跟英国首相布朗在白宫开始会谈时对他执政时美俄关系会改善表示乐观。
"My hope is we can have a constructive relationship where based on common respect and mutual interests we can move forward," he said.
奥巴马说：“我希望，我们可以建立建设性的关系，在这种关系下，基于相互尊重和共同的利益，我们才能向前发展。”
At the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates talked about the need for Washington and Moscow to work together on Iran. He again raised the possibility of Russian cooperation on the missile defense program.
国防部长盖茨在五角大楼谈到华盛顿和莫斯科在伊朗问题上合作的必要性。他再次提到俄罗斯在导弹防御计划上合作的可能性。
"The reality is that the missiles the Iranians are testing can reach a good part of Russia as well as Eastern Europe and part of Western Europe. The missiles cannot reach the United States yet. This is part of our commitment to a European missile defense," he said.
盖茨说：“事实是，伊朗人正在试射的导弹能够有效地打到俄罗斯、东欧和西欧某些地区。伊朗的导弹还不能打到美国。这就是我们对欧洲导弹防御系统承诺的一部分。”
Gates stressed that the Obama administration's policies on Europe, Russia and missile defense remain under review.
盖茨强调，奥巴马政府的欧洲、俄罗斯和导弹防御政策仍在审议之中。
President Obama has said he supports deployment of a missile shield, only if it would be effective and affordable.
奥巴马总统说，他只有在导弹防御系统确实行之有效、负担得起的情况下才支持部署这一系统。 |