2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Departs for Europe, G-8 Summit

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
12 July 2006

President Bush is on his way to Germany for talks with Chancellor¹ Angela Merkel, before they attend the G-8 Summit this weekend in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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White House National Security Advisor² Stephen Hadley says the stop in northeast Germany will be an opportunity for Mr. Bush to build a personal rapport³ with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"The chancellor is providing strong, principled leadership, and the president believes she is helping⁴ to strengthen a German-American alliance committed to making this world safer, more democratic, and more prosperous," said President Bush.

Mr. Bush will travel on to Russia, arriving Friday in St. Petersburg ahead of the leaders of Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Canada. The early arrival is designed to provide time for one-on-one talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the G-8 Summit participants gather for a social dinner Saturday evening.

Critics of the Russian government have urged President Bush to boycott⁵ the summit to show his concern for recent setbacks to democracy. But the White House makes clear no thought was given to staying home.

Hadley told reporters the president believes the best approach is to meet with the Russian leader and raise concerns privately⁶, but frankly⁷.

"Russia is an important player in Europe. It is an important country in the world, and it is important that we engage on these issues in the way I described, cooperating in areas where we can and being clear where we disagree. And that is the kind of businesslike relationship you'd expect," said Stephen Hadley.

The Russian hosts have chosen three priority topics for the summit: energy security, fighting infectious disease, and education. But recent developments regarding Iran and North Korea's nuclear intentions are likely to play a key role in the discussions.

White House Spokesman Tony Snow says it is shaping up to be a very busy summit. He says it will also be an unusual G-8 because there are so many international trouble spots vying⁸ for attention.

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

3 rapport   

n.和睦，意见一致

参考例句：

• She has an excellent rapport with her staff.她跟她职员的关系非常融洽。
• We developed a high degree of trust and a considerable personal rapport.我们发展了高度的互相信任和不错的私人融洽关系。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

6 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

7 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

8 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。