VOA标准英语10月-New Talks Aim to Resolve Georgia, Russia Tensions

Talks aimed at resolving tensions between Georgia and Russia after this summer's brief war get underway in Geneva Wednesday. The one-day meeting is being held under the auspices¹ of the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from the UN conference site in Geneva.

These were supposed to have been high-level talks. But, they have now been downgraded to the so-called expert level of vice-minister.

Daniel Warner is the Director for the Center of International Governance at the Graduate Institute of International Development Studies in Geneva. He says people are skeptical² about what can be accomplished³ given the hostile relationship between Russia and Georgia.

Nevertheless, he tells VOA it is important to have a meeting, which allows the Russians and Georgians to sit at the same table and talk.

"Having said that, I do not think that there will be a resolution in the sense of returning to the status quo before August 7. The best thing that can happen is to guarantee that there will be no more fighting," Warner said. "To guarantee that there will be peacekeepers on the territory and to begin to see how they can begin negotiations⁴ that somehow can reach some kind of resolution between two parties which have very different points of view about the situation."
　

Russian troops take position at entrance of Gori, 14 Aug 2008

Fighting between Russia and Georgia erupted on August 7 over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia. The five-day war displaced tens of thousands of people in Georgia proper, as well as in South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region, Abkhazia.

Russia subsequently moved into Georgia, but says it has since withdrawn⁵ its tanks and troops from the country. During the talks, the United States and other Western countries are expected to look into Russia's compliance⁶ with its withdrawal⁷ commitment under the French-brokered ceasefire agreement.

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon says the complex issues on the table defy quick solutions.

"We should not be too much impatient or hurried to have so-called technical resolution of this issue. This may take time. So, we need to have some patience," he said. "In the short term, we need to try our best efforts among the parties concerned to restore confidence so that we can establish a conflict resolution process in the end."

Russia and Georgia are at loggerheads over who should sit at the negotiating table. Russia, which recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, wants them to participate in the talks. Georgia is opposed to this.

Warner says a compromise appears to have been worked out.

"The compromise as I understand today is there will be a plenary session only with the Georgians, Russians and government officials," he said. "Then there will be a second meeting between experts where people from Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia will be represented. But, the name tags will only say that they are individuals. They will give their names. They will not be representing a formal government. That is the compromise for the moment."

The United States says it still has serious concerns over the Russian troops' location and their overall numbers in the breakaway regions. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Dan Fried will attend the talks and see that this issue will be, as a State Department Spokesman says, front and center during the discussions.

1 auspices   

n.资助，赞助

参考例句：

• The association is under the auspices of Word Bank.这个组织是在世界银行的赞助下办的。
• The examination was held under the auspices of the government.这次考试是由政府主办的。

2 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

3 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

6 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

7 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。