The top U.S. military officer is in Moscow for talks on missile defense, arms control and other issues in advance of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to the Russian capital in 10 days.
美国军方高级官员正在莫斯科举行关于导弹防御、军备控制等问题的会谈，这是为十天后美国总统奥巴马访问俄罗斯作准备。
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said the U.S. desire to put a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, which Russia strongly opposes, will be a key topic of his talks in Moscow.
美国参谋长联席会议主席马伦上将说，美国在波兰和捷克共和国部署导弹防御系统的愿望遭到俄罗斯的激烈反对，这个问题将是这次莫斯科会谈的主要话题。
"Clearly the issue of missile defense is something that's been a significant topic and issue for Russia and the United States and that will, I'm sure, be something that we talk about," he said.
马伦说：“显然，导弹防御系统问题是俄罗斯和美国的重大讨论议题，我确信，那个问题也将是我们讨论的内容。”
The admiral said he will be seeking a better understanding of the Russian military's view of the missile defense plan, which top Russian political leaders have sharply criticized.
马伦上将说，他将努力深入理解俄罗斯军方对这个导弹防御计划的看法。俄罗斯政界领导人曾尖锐批评有关计划。
Mullen's talks come just days after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said there will be no progress on broader arms control talks unless the United States abandons the European missile defense plan. The renewal and expansion of a strategic arms reduction treaty that expires in December will be the primary topic for the Obama-Medvedev summit.
马伦开始会谈的几天前，俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫说，除非美国放弃在欧洲的导弹防御系统部署计划，否则涉及面更广泛的军备控制问题会谈将不会取得进展。削减战略武器条约的重续和扩大将是奥巴马和梅德韦杰夫峰会的主要话题。
U.S. officials say the missile defense system does not threaten Russia or its defenses, but rather is designed to counter the growing missile threat from Iran.
美国官员说，导弹防御系统并不危及俄罗斯及其防务，设计该计划是为了应对日益增长的伊朗导弹威胁。
But Admiral Mullen says while missile defense and arms control will be on his agenda when he meets senior Russian military officers and defense ministry officials during the next two days, he believes there are also many other topics to discuss.
但是马伦上将说，当他在今后两天会见俄罗斯军方和国防部高级官员时，虽然导弹防御系统和军备控制将在他的议事日程上，但是他相信，另外还有许多要探讨的问题。
"We have areas of common interests, whether it's security interests in Afghanistan, the area of piracy, the area of terrorism," he said. "Those are the kinds of things that I'm sure we'll have robust discussions on. And there will I'm sure be discussions on the areas we differ on. And I think it's important to continue those discussions as well to understand each other's positions."
马伦说：“我们有许多利益与共的领域，不论在阿富汗的安全利益，还是涉及海盗的问题或者恐怖主义问题，都是我们有共同利益的领域。我确信我们将就那些事情展开积极的讨论。我也相信我们将讨论存在分歧的问题。我认为继续那些讨论并且相互理解对方的立场是很重要的。”
This is Admiral Mullen's first visit to Moscow as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But because of the importance of security issues for the upcoming U.S.-Russia summit, a spokesman says President Obama has taken the unusual step of asking Admiral Mullen to return to Moscow in early July to join him at those meetings.
这是马伦上将作为参谋长联席会议主席第一次访问莫斯科。但是一名发言人说，由于即将举行的美俄峰会要讨论的安全问题十分重要， 奥巴马总统不同寻常地要求马伦上将七月初重返莫斯科与他一起参加峰会。 |