2007年VOA标准英语-Russian Ambassador Says It's Too Soon For UN to

By Suzanne Presto¹
New York
16 August 2007

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations says the Security Council should not take any action on Georgian allegations that Russia violated its airspace until after officials of the two countries carry out their own investigation². Suzanne Presto has more on the story from VOA's United Nations bureau.

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Georgian specialists examine the remains of the rocket near Tsitelubani, South Ossetia, Georgia, 07 Aug. 2007

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin says Russian and Georgian experts will jointly⁴ probe allegations that Russian fighter jets entered more than 75 kilometers into Georgian territory and launched a guided missile on August sixth. 

Georgian officials said the missile fell near a village outside the pro-Russian breakaway region of South Ossetia, but did not explode.

Moscow denies such charges. 

Churkin says a high-level Russian delegation⁵, led by the chief of staff of the Russian Air Force, has been dispatched to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

"Of course, our hope is that in the course of those bilateral⁶ contacts, this matter will be clarified," he said.  "This is our hope.  There are of course all sorts of efforts to, as I said, to create, you know, some stir around this issue, unfortunately, from the Georgian side." 

Last week, Georgia's deputy representative to the U.N., Irakli Chikovani, called the alleged⁷ missile incident a Russian "act of aggression," aimed at disrupting Georgia's democratic advances.

And Georgia has pressed international bodies, including the Security Council, to investigate alleged multiple violations⁸ of Georgian airspace. 

The Security Council Thursday discussed the alleged missile incident. Afterward⁹, the Council's Congolese President, Pascal Gayama, said the body will continue to follow up. 

Russia's ambassador notes that while the reported incursion has captured the interest of some Security Council members, he hopes that the matter will not require Security Council action.   

"Some delegations¹⁰ were proposing an official statement, initially¹¹, then a press statement," he added.  "But we explained to colleagues that this would be premature¹² for the Council to make any kind of a statement of this sort, simply in view of the ongoing¹³ discussions and consultations¹⁴ between the Russian and Georgian experts."

Churkin says it is too early to know what role the Council will play in any investigation.  Russia is one of five permanent members of the Security Council.

On Wednesday, Georgian officials said a team of international experts determined¹⁵ that a plane flew into Georgian airspace from the Russian side.

But Churkin dismissed that assertion, saying Georgia is creating confusion by calling on multiple groups to investigate.  He says the Russian and Georgian delegations should be given the opportunity to investigate thoroughly¹⁶.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Georgian Ambassador Irakli Alasania on Wednesday to discuss the missile incident.

1 presto   

adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的

参考例句：

• With something so important,you can't just wave a wand and presto!在这么重大的问题上，你想挥动一下指挥棒，转眼就变过来,办不到！
• I just turned the piece of wire in the lock and hey presto,the door opened.我把金属丝伸到锁孔里一拧，嘿，那门就开了。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

5 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。

6 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

8 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

9 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

10 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

11 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

12 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

13 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。

14 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

16 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。