VOA英语2010年-Moscow, EU Reach Deal for Russian WTO Member

The European Union and Russia have reached an agreement on trade issues that paves the way for Moscow's entry into the World Trade Organization as early as next year.

The deal opening the way for Russia's membership to the World Trade Organizations was reached during wide-ranging talks between European Union officials and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Brussels. They underscore warming ties between the two sides after divisions over the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict.

The European Union permanent President Herman Van Rompuy announced the breakthrough at a press conference. "We agreed that we should now focus on the multi-lateral negotiations¹ so that Russia can become a member of the WTO as soon as possible. This is a paramount² step forward. And a step the world is closely watching."

Moscow is the European Union's third-biggest trading partner and the only major one that is not a member of the World Trade Organization. As a result, it must settle differences through bilateral³ negotiations with separate states.

Russia received U.S. backing for its WTO membership in October, after 17 years of negotiations, and hopes to join the trading block in 2011.

Separately, The Associated Press news agency reported Medvedev is urging NATO to drop a secret agreement to defend three Baltic states against military attack during a meeting with the Atlantic alliance Wednesday in Brussels. Information about the defense⁴ deal was cited in confidential⁵ U.S. cables made public by WikiLeaks.

1 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。

2 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

3 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。

4 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。

5 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。