2006年VOA标准英语-Montenegro to Vote on Independence

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
20 May 2006

Montenegro decides Sunday whether to seal the final breakup of the former Yugoslavia's six republics, when it votes in a referendum on severing¹ its remaining links with Serbia.

-------------------------------------------

Shouting "Yugoslavia" at a pre-vote rally, supporters of the pro-Serb Socialist² opposition³ encouraged Montenegrins to vote against independence in Sunday's referendum.

The most recent opinion polls, taken last month, showed about 56 percent in favor of independence.

However, under European Union guidelines, the referendum could be declared invalid⁴, if less than 55 percent of the voters choose independence.

In a television interview, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, who favors independence, suggested that an invalid referendum, or a massive no vote, would force his tiny republic to remain in what he considers an uncomfortable arrangement as the junior partner in a loose federation⁵ with Serbia. He spoke⁶ through an interpreter.

"Because, the current arrangement has proved not to work. Montenegro during the ongoing⁷ transition period has been Serbia's hostage," he said.  "The Serbian government was not willing to respect its international engagements for instance. As you know, the Serbian government has refused to collaborate⁸ with the international tribunal in The Hague. Serbia and Montenegro have both suffered in their European ambitions. The logical conclusion is that Montenegro has suffered the consequences for something for which it was not responsible."

The federation of Serbia and Montenegro was created three years ago as the successor to what was left of former Yugoslavia, following its violent breakup.

Opponents of independence, say tiny Montenegro, with a population of 620,000, is too small to be viable⁹ as an independent state.

Observers and analysts¹⁰ are concerned about the possible consequences of an indecisive result, in which more than half the voters, but less than the needed 55 percent, vote for independence. That would leave Montenegro in a "gray zone," with a majority favoring independence, but not enough to secede¹¹.

1 severing   

v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The death of a second parent is like severing an umbilical cord to our past. 父母当中第二个人去世，就象斩断了把我们同过去联在一起的纽带。 来自辞典例句
• The severing theory and severing method for brittle block are studied. 研究裂纹技术应用于分离脆性块体的分离理论和分离方法。 来自互联网

2 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

5 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。

9 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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。

11 secede   

v.退出，脱离

参考例句：

• They plotted to make the whole Mississippi Valley secede from the United States.他们阴谋策划使整个密西西比流域脱离美国。
• We won't allow Tibet to secede from China and become an independent nation.我们决不允许西藏脱离中国独立。