VOA标准英语10月-Georgians Contemplate Future Five Years After Ros

Its famous Rose Revolution in November 2003 was to usher¹ in a new era for the former Soviet² Republic of Georgia - an era of democracy and a path forward to eventual³ membership in the West's most prestigious⁴ political clubs - the European Union and NATO. Nearly five years later Georgia still faces a difficult course between East and West as the conflict with neighboring Russia in August proved. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from Tbilisi.
　

Religious festival at Sveti Tskhoveli, Georgia

Life has returned to normal in most of Georgia - two months after the conflict with neighboring Russia. But the scars of that war are still fresh in people's minds.

One man said he remembers the oppression from the decades under Soviet rule. He said Russia is now doing the same thing - attacking its small neighbor.

And a woman said she simply prays for peace.

A simple wish - on the minds of many Georgians nowadays.

Simmering tensions in the breakaway province of South Ossetia erupted into open conflict in early August, after the government in Tbilisi tried to re-take control of the region from Russian-backed separatists. Russia sent troops into the area and deep into Georgia. Even now Russian troops remain in South Ossetia and in the other breakaway enclave of Abkhazia in the northwest.

Among Georgians - views about the war are mixed.
　

Alexander Rondeli

The president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, Alexander Rondeli, said the conflict united Georgians and rallied support for President Mikhail Saakashvili.

"You know, Russian behavior has made Saakashvili's position stronger. If the Russians did not commit so many crimes on Georgian soil and if they behaved in a different way, Saakashvili's position would be weaker," he said.
　

Leila Gaprindashvili

But not everyone agrees. Sociologist⁵ Leila Gaprindashvili said she cannot see the benefits for the government's military action. "I think the conflict has led to a postponement⁶ of reconciliation⁷ with the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and with the process of return of these territories for a long time."

Georgia received strong verbal support from the West during and after the conflict, and is getting financial support to rebuild its army and its damaged infrastructure⁸, and to help civilians⁹ who had to flee their homes.

But many question whether its actions have helped or hindered Georgia's chances of joining the European Union and NATO. Moscow opposes Georgian membership. And, many see its incursion into Georgia as a signal that Russia is willing to use military force to make that point.

Lawrence Sheets is the senior Caucasus analyst¹⁰ of the International Crisis Group. He said the war could have longer-term negative effects. "What a conflict situation like this does is decrease the attractiveness of Georgia as a transit¹¹ state, which in turn has the potential to affect its economy."

Georgia relies heavily on trade, especially in its role as conduit for oil and gas from east to west.

But in November, as Georgians commemorate¹² the 5th anniversary of their Rose Revolution, some will be asking how far they have come and where they are going.

During the revolution, tens of thousands took to the streets to protest rigged elections and demand a change in government and direction. The revolution brought President Saakashvili to power with promises of democracy, transparency, economic opportunities and a decisive turn westward¹³.

Sheets said while some promises of the Rose Revolution have been fulfilled, others have not.

"What the government needs to do is to open up the media. The atmosphere involving television is one of increasing government control in recent months and in recent years and that has to be reversed. The second thing the Georgian government must do is reform the court system, because the court system is not independent in this country," he said.

Some say - with the scars of the conflict with Russia still fresh - an economic downturn or delays in EU or NATO membership could have Georgians asking what happened to the promises of their Rose Revolution.

1 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

4 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

5 sociologist   

n.研究社会学的人，社会学家

参考例句：

• His mother was a sociologist,researching socialism.他的母亲是个社会学家，研究社会主义。
• Max Weber is a great and outstanding sociologist.马克斯·韦伯是一位伟大的、杰出的社会学家。

6 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

12 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

13 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。