VOA常速英语2008年-Russia Responds to Serbian Request for Humanita

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
24 March 2008

Russia says it is responding to a Serbian request for humanitarian¹ assistance to Kosovo, the disputed territory that recently declared its independence from Belgrade. VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky has this report.

Speaking at a meeting of the Russian cabinet, President Vladimir Putin ordered Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov to work out the details of humanitarian assistance for both Serbian and ethnic² Albanian residents of Kosovo.

Mr. Putin says the premise³ of Russian assistance should be to make all residents of Kosovo - he refers to it as an enclave - feel normal, regardless of their nationality. He notes that if humanitarian assistance is needed, Russia should provide it, but without any political overtones.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims the humanitarian situation in Kosovo's ethnic Serbian enclaves has become more tense, and that Russia recently received a request for assistance from Serbia.

"Above all," says Lavrov, "they are interested in medication, medical equipment, nonperishable food and hygiene⁴ products."

The United States and many European countries, including several members of the former Yugoslavia, have recognized Kosovo's independence. Russia, a Serbian ally, refuses. Kosovo has become 90 percent ethnic Albanian, but Serbs consider it to be the cradle of their civilization.

Moscow-based military analyst⁵ Pavel Felgenhauer, told VOA that Russian humanitarian assistance is a feel-good gesture that will not change the political reality in Kosovo. Felgenhauer says Russians will say a few words, offer some humanitarian assistance, and send a few bags of flour and canned meat to the [Northern Kosovo] town of Mitrovica. "And what of it," asks Felgenhaur, adding that Russia has little capability⁶ and desire to do anything about Kosovo.

Kosovo's parliament declared independence from Serbia on February 17. It has been under U.N. administration since 1999, after NATO air strikes halted Belgrade's crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. March 24 marks nine years since the beginning of those strikes.

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

4 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

5 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。

6 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。