Schroeder: Germany Ready to Contribute to Iraq's Reconstruct

Schroeder: Germany Ready to Contribute to Iraq's Reconstruction¹

Ruth Elkins

In a short news conference after a working dinner in Berlin Thursday evening, Mr. Schroeder said Germany is ready to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction.

He said it is important to move on from the reasons for the war on Iraq. He said he wants to focus on creating future stability and democratizing the country after the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein last year.

Germany always strongly opposed the war on Iraq, whereas Britain was America's strongest ally. Mr. Blair echoed Mr. Schroeder, saying past differences over Iraq shouldn't stop the pair from working together to ensure Iraq's future stability. He said the talks were extremely constructive² and both want to see Iraq become a democratic, prosperous and stable country.

The meeting was widely seen as an opportunity to show any rifts⁴ over Iraq have been resolved before a tri-lateral summit next week in Berlin, where Mr. Blair and Mr. Schroeder will be joined by French President Jacques Chirac. That meeting is being seen as an opportunity for the three to shore up their positions on EU expansion before a larger EU conference in March.

Mr. Blair and Mr. Schroeder also used the informal meeting to discuss the stalled EU constitution and their positions on Afghanistan. There, too, Mr. Schroeder said Germany is ready to provide a "lasting⁵" contribution to help stabilize⁶ the country.

 

注释：

contribute to  捐助

move on  继续前进

democratize [di5mCkrEtaiz] v. （使）民主化

dictator [dik5teitE] n. 独裁者

ally [E5lai] n. 同盟国，支持者

constructive [kEn5strQktiv] adj. 建设性的

rift³ [rift] n. 不和

shore up  支持

stall [stC:l] v. 停止，迟延

lasting [5lB:stiN] adj. 持久的，永久的

stabilize [5steIbIlaIz] v. 稳定

 

1 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

2 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。

3 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

4 rifts   

n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和

参考例句：

• After that, through the rifts in the inky clouds sparkled redder and yet more luminous particles. 然后在几条墨蓝色云霞的隙缝里闪出几个更红更亮的小片。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
• The Destinies mend rifts in time as man etches fate. 当人类想要再次亵渎命运的时候，命运及时修正了这些裂痕。 来自互联网

5 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

6 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。