voa标准英语2008-Russian President Talks Military Force During En

President Dmitri Medvedev says Russia reserves the right to use military force to defend its interests, and will also take steps to protect the dignity and lives of its citizens, wherever they may be. Mr. Medvedev made those remarks during a nationally televised end-of-year interview, in which he focused on the economy, but also touched on relations with the United States and gas supplies for Ukraine.
　

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks during his interview with the top Russian television channels at the Kremlin in Moscow, 24 Dec 2008

In an interview broadcast nationwide late Wednesday on Russia's major television networks, President Dmitri Medvedev said he occasionally senses foreign attempts to "put Russia in its place," but rejected them as unacceptable. As an example, he mentioned "the desire of colleagues and partners in NATO to expand the organization without limit."

Ukraine and Georgia are seeking membership in the Western defense¹ alliance. Some citizens of both countries have been issued Russian passports, in effect granting them dual² citizenship³. Moscow used that as a pretext⁴ in August to send tanks into Georgia, saying it needed to protect its citizens. Mr. Medvedev said Russia will continue to take firm and direct action whenever and wherever the lives and dignity of Russian citizens are endangered.

Russia will use all available means to protect its interests

The Kremlin leader says he is firmly convinced that Russia must protect its interests using all available means. He says these include, first of all, international law, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations, and regional bodies, in which Russia participates. But when necessary, Mr. Medvedev says the country must also use its military potential.

Russia's use of force during the Georgian conflict was condemned⁵ by many countries, including the United States, as excessive. Mr. Medvedev told interviewers he was the one who made the decision to send troops into Georgia, and that he needed to do so quickly without opportunity to consult with anybody.

Russian president hopes for improved relations under Obama administration

Mr. Medvedev says U.S. President-elect Barack Obama told him over the telephone that relations with the Russian Federation⁶ are one of America's top foreign policy priorities, an assessment⁷ the Kremlin leader says is mutual⁸. He expressed hope for more effective and reliable ties with the United States, noting that Russia is not to blame for what he says are lost opportunities to have built normal relations with America in recent years.

President Medvedev also assured consumers in Europe and other countries that Russia will fulfill⁹ all of its obligations to supply them with natural gas, despite Moscow's threat to cut deliveries to Ukraine for non-payment of a $2 billion debt. Much of Europe's gas is delivered via pipelines¹⁰ across Ukraine.

Mr. Medvedev says Ukrainians must pay every last ruble if they want to avoid having their economy hit by sanctions and demands from the Russian Federation.

Medvedev concerned about economic crisis

Most of the Medvedev interview focused on economic issues, particularly the global economic crisis. He acknowledged rising unemployment in Russia and also threatened legal action against employers for illegal layoffs¹¹ or failure to pay workers, adding that this is the only way to prevent such things from spreading. Mr. Medvedev says a list is also being prepared of hundreds of companies targeted for government assistance.

The Russian president says this is not something the government planned to do six months ago, but now there is no choice. He adds that direct subsidies¹² are needed for companies of strategic importance for Russia, and to firms that are the principle employer and mainstay of entire towns.

Russian authorities recently issued a warning to a former deputy social services minister, Yevgeny Gontmakher, for publishing a newspaper article that examined the potential for social unrest in Russia, particularly in one-industry towns that could be hit hard by layoffs. Russia has about 700 such towns.

1 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。

2 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

3 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

4 pretext   

n.借口，托词

参考例句：

• He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
• He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口，没参加那个会议。

5 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

6 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。

7 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

8 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

9 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

10 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

11 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

12 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》