VOA常速英语2018--庆贺爱沙尼亚独立100周年

February 24th marked the one hundredth anniversary of the founding the Republic of Estonia.

2月24日是爱沙尼亚共和国成立100周年纪念日。

The Estonian Declaration of Independence, also known as the Manifesto¹ to the Peoples of Estonia,was drafted by the Salvation² Committee elected by the elders of the Estonian Provincial³ Assembly.

《爱沙尼亚独立宣言》又名《爱沙尼亚人民宣言》，是由拯救爱沙尼亚委员会拟定的。而拯救爱沙尼亚委员会是爱沙尼亚省议会长老们选举出来的。

Originally intended to be proclaimed on 21 February 1918, the proclamation was delayed until the evening of 23 February, when the manifesto was printed and read out aloud publicly in Parnu. On the next day, 24 February, the manifesto was printed and distributed in the capital, Tallinn, and beyond.In a message of congratulations to Estonians this year U.S. Ambassador to Estonia James Melville noted⁴: Contained in that declaration of an independent and democratic republic are affirmations of inalienable rights that ring just as true today as they did a century ago. qual protection under the law for all irrespective of religion, ethnic⁵ origin, or political views. The guarantee of all civic⁶ freedoms, freedom of expression, religion, assembly, association, to strike, and the inviolability of each individual and of the home.

一开始本打算在1918年2月21日公布该宣言，但日期推迟到了2月23日晚。那晚，在将宣言打印出来后，就在派尔努做了公开宣读。第二天，也就是2月24日，宣言经打印后在首都塔林等城市分发。今年，在向爱沙尼亚人民进行祝贺时，美国驻爱沙尼亚大使詹姆斯 梅尔维尔(James Melville)表示：爱沙尼亚这个独立民主共和国的宣言中肯定了不可剥夺的权利，这些权利无论是一个世纪前，还是现在，都依然适用。无论宗教信仰、种族、政治观点为何，都应该受到法律平等的保护。所有形式的公民自由都应该得到保证，比如：言论自由、宗教信仰自由、集会自由、结社自由、罢工自由。每位公民和家庭的神圣不可侵犯性也要得到保证。

The United States and Estonia are linked, wrote Ambassador Melville, by our shared commitment to democratic freedoms, our rock solid alliance, economic ties that bridge the Atlantic, and the many ties between our two peoples.Over my nearly three-year tenure⁷ as Ambassador, I have traveled to every corner of your beautiful land. I have had the honor to meet with your nation's leaders, be motivated by your innovative⁸ use of technology, and inspired by the energy and boundless⁹ potential of your young people. The future is so bright for Estonia, and I feel honored to have shared this land with you during my time here.

大使梅尔维尔写道，美国和爱沙尼亚是相互联系的，因为我们都致力于民主自由，因为我们的联盟坚如磐石，因为我们的经济关系连接起了大西洋，还因为我们两国人民间有着深厚的关系。在我担任大使近3年的时间里，我去过爱沙尼亚的每个角落。我也曾有幸与爱沙尼亚的多位领导人会晤，我为爱沙尼亚对科技创新性的应用深感震撼，我也受到爱沙尼亚年轻人能量和无边潜力的鼓舞。爱沙尼亚的未来是如此光明，我很荣幸在我在此任职期间能与你们共同踏足这篇土地。

In this centennial year, the Ambassador added, I join all of my colleagues and friends from the U.S. Embassy in expressing our sincerest gratitude¹⁰ for your partnership¹¹ and heartfelt congratulations on your 100th anniversary. Happy Birthday, Estonia!

梅尔维尔补充说，在爱沙尼亚100周年纪念到来之际，我与美国大使馆的所有同仁和朋友在此表达我们对双方伙伴关系最真挚的感谢，并对你们的100周年纪念表示发自内心的祝贺。生日快乐，爱沙尼亚！

1 manifesto   

n.宣言，声明

参考例句：

• I was involved in the preparation of Labour's manifesto.我参与了工党宣言的起草工作。
• His manifesto promised measures to protect them.他在宣言里保证要为他们采取保护措施。

2 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

3 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

4 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。

5 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。

6 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

7 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

8 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

9 boundless   

adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的

参考例句：

• The boundless woods were sleeping in the deep repose of nature.无边无际的森林在大自然静寂的怀抱中酣睡着。
• His gratitude and devotion to the Party was boundless.他对党无限感激、无限忠诚。

10 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

11 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。