VOA标准英语2009年-Russia Looks Forward to Working With Obama

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he has been listening to and reviewing statements by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and looks forward to working with the new U.S. administration on a wide range of issues.
　
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks in Moscow, 16 Jan 2009

Speaking at a Moscow news conference, Foreign Minister Lavrov says that Russia, like many countries, wants to work with the incoming American administration.

Lavrov says Russia seeks continuity in relations, noting with a chuckle¹, however, they should not resemble those that were practiced in recent years, because they were unsatisfactory. Instead, he would like to see a continuity of principles that Moscow and Washington agreed upon at a high level.

Lavrov cited an April agreement between Presidents George Bush and Vladimir Putin. It provided a framework for their successors on such issues as missile defense², nuclear non-proliferation, arms control, Iran, North Korea, Russian WTO accession, and climate change.

Lavrov expressed hope the Obama administration can achieve a breakthrough on a U.S. proposal to deploy³ a Central European missile defense system, which the Kremlin opposes as a threat to Russian security. The Bush White House has argued the system is designed to protect against an Iranian missile attack.

Referring to efforts to rein⁴ in Iran's nuclear program, Lavrov said he expects contacts made with Tehran in December by the United States, Russia and four European countries to resume soon after Mr. Obama assumes office.

Lavrov says Russia has noted⁵ statements by the new team moving into the White House on January 20 regarding direct talks with Iran without preconditions. He says such talks would be a useful way to move the agenda forward.
　
President-elect Barack Obama speaks to reporters in Washington, 12 Jan 2009

During the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama qualified⁶ his statement, saying he would not necessarily meet Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Sergei Lavrov says he expects the Obama administration will also provide impetus⁷ to better bilateral⁸ economic relations, and he expects a constructive⁹ dialogue on a new strategic arms agreement, to replace the current one, which expires in December.

He says the Middle East crisis probably needs Mr. Obama's immediate¹⁰ attention, adding that the United States should cooperate with its European allies and Russia to address problems in Iraq and Afghanistan.

1 chuckle   

vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑

参考例句：

• He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。
• I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个，我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。

2 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。

3 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

4 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

7 impetus   

n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力

参考例句：

• This is the primary impetus behind the economic recovery.这是促使经济复苏的主要动力。
• Her speech gave an impetus to my ideas.她的讲话激发了我的思绪。

8 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。

9 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。