2006年VOA标准英语-Canada-US Arctic Dispute Sparks Sharp Exch

By Craig McCulloch
Vancouver
27 January 2006

Even though he has not yet been sworn in, Canada's prime minister designate is already in a diplomatic dispute with the United States. At issue is claims of sovereignty in the northern arctic.

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The dispute is over Canada's claim to the area of the Arctic Ocean that is offshore¹ from the country's northern territories.Canada, the United States and Russia have had conflicting claims in the Arctic for years.

The prime minister designate's retort came after the U.S. ambassador to Canada, David Wilkins, made a comment earlier this week disputing Canada's assertion of sovereignty over Arctic waters the United States considers international territory. "We don't recognize Canada's claim to those waters," he said.

Ambassador Wilkins added that there is no reason to create a problem that does not exist.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper gives thumbs up in Calgary, Canada, Monday, Jan. 23, 2006  
  
For incoming Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who will formally take office on February 6, this issue clearly is a problem.

Canada's northern sovereignty became a recurring² issue during the 46 year-old economist's recent election campaign. Mr. Harper is promising³ to build three new armed icebreaking ships for the Arctic in addition to establishing underwater sensors⁴ to listen for foreign vessels⁵, including U.S. submarines. He is also vowing⁶ to establish aerial surveillance and install more military personnel. In addition, he supports plans for building a new port in the Arctic town of Iqaluit to house the additional personnel and new ships.

In his first news conference since forming a Conservative minority government this past Monday, Mr. Harper, gave a stern response to the U.S. Ambassador's comments. "As you know, I was very clear about this in the election campaign. The United States defends its sovereignty. The Canadian government will defend our sovereignty. I've been very clear in the campaign that we have significant plans for national defense⁷ and for defense of our sovereignty including Arctic sovereignty. We believe we have a mandate⁸ for those from the Canadian people and we hope to have it as well from the House of Commons, but it is the Canadian people we get our mandate from, not the Ambassador of the United States," he said.

Canada's relations with the United States also became a recurring issue during the campaign.

The prime minister-elect frequently accused Liberal party leader and now outgoing Prime Minister Paul Martin of bashing the United States and President Bush for political gain.

Ambassador Wilkins, in a December speech to a business group, even entered into that discussion, saying the repeated accusations⁹ over trade irritants and other actions could hurt relations between Canada and the United States.

Mr. Martin and the Bush Administration have clashed over a tariff¹⁰ the United States imposed on softwood lumber¹¹ imported from Canada. Several international tribunals have ruled against the tariff, which the U.S. government has refused to withdraw.

Mr. Harper, who promised during the campaign to solve the softwood issue, received a telephone call from President Bush shortly after the election. Mr. Harper would not disclose if they talked about the issues between the two countries, or any other details of the conversation.

1 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

2 recurring   

adj.往复的，再次发生的

参考例句：

• This kind of problem is recurring often. 这类问题经常发生。
• For our own country, it has been a time for recurring trial. 就我们国家而言，它经过了一个反复考验的时期。

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

5 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

7 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。

8 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

9 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

10 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

11 lumber   

n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动

参考例句：

• The truck was sent to carry lumber.卡车被派出去运木材。
• They slapped together a cabin out of old lumber.他们利用旧木料草草地盖起了一间小屋。