VOA标准英语2009-Russian-Georgian Talks Salvaged

International mediators say the latest round of Russian-Georgian security talks took place in a constructive¹ spirit, despite initial difficulties. The talks were on the point of collapse² Monday after the Russian delegation³ walked out in solidarity⁴ with its Abkhaz and South Ossetian allies.
　
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoriy Karasin at talks in Geneva, 19 May 2009

After initially⁵ walking out of the talks on Monday, the Russian delegation reconsidered and resumed the discussions, much to the relief of the three international mediators.

At the end of Tuesday's talks they were all smiles as they issued their final communiqué, which described the discussions as having taken place in a constructive spirit. The Special Representative of the European Union for the crisis in Georgia said he believed the process was back on the right track. Indeed, he said the process was in full swing.

The Special Envoy⁶ of the OSCE or Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Charalampos Christopoulos, tempered his remarks by admitting the discussions were not easy. "Emotions are still raw and positions in some cases, wide apart. But, the discussions are crucial for the security and stability of Georgia, the Caucuses⁷ and the wider region and we, as co-chairs will continue to help all participants to try to find common ground," he said.

Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia during two wars in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet⁸ Union. Last August, a brief war erupted between Moscow and Tblisi over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. There was great destruction and tens of thousands of people were displaced.

The Abkhaz delegation was initially refused to attend the talks to protest the U.N.'s refusal to recognize its independent status. Only Russia and Nicaragua recognize the breakaway states of Abkhazia and Ossetia as independent states. The rest of the world considers them as part of Georgia.

These negotiations⁹ are aimed at easing tensions in the region. Two working groups have been set up to deal with security and humanitarian¹⁰ issues.

Christopoulos said despite the rocky start, this fifth round of negotiations has made progress. "Participants began to discuss concrete security arrangements. We're also moving forward on humanitarian questions, including on water where the OSCE is playing a specific role…Secondly, the working level mechanisms¹¹ to tackle security related incidents have started. That was a concrete outcome from the fourth round of the Geneva discussions and all participants have recommitted themselves again during this round to implement¹² these mechanisms," he said.

Christopoulos acknowledged that much work still has to be done to overcome the mistrust of all sides and to reduce tensions. The next round of talks is scheduled for July 1.

1 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。

2 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

3 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

4 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

5 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

6 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

7 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网

8 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。

9 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。

10 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。

11 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。