VOA标准英语2009年-Obama, NATO Chief Review Alliance Missions

U.S. President Barack Obama said his goal is to help create a stronger NATO. Mr. Obama said he wants to see an invigorated NATO presence in Afghanistan.

NATO celebrates its 60th anniversary at the end of next week with a summit in the heart of Europe - along the French-German border.

President Obama said it will be an opportunity to not just review the successes of the past, but to look to the future.

"We have a set of challenges that require NATO to shift from the 20th century to the 21st century; issues of terrorism, failed states, nuclear proliferation, a whole host of new challenges as well as the traditional role NATO has played in preserving the territorial¹ integrity of NATO members," he said.
　
President Barack Obama and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop² Scheffer after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, 25 Mar³ 2009

The president spoke⁴ after talks at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

Mr. Obama told reporters they reviewed the agenda for the upcoming summit - with Afghanistan right at the top.

The president noted⁵ his administration is completing a detailed⁶ review of its Afghanistan strategy. He said there has been consultation⁷ with the NATO allies, and predicted detailed discussions at the summit.

"We believe that we are going to be able to ensure that the NATO members that made so many sacrifices and have been working so hard already are reinvigorated and that the coordination⁸ that is going to be taking place will make it even more effective for us as we complete a successful NATO mission," he said.

President Obama went on to talk about the importance of improved relations with Russia. But he also stressed the need to expand NATO to any country that meets the criteria⁹ for membership.
　
Anti-NATO graffiti in Kyiv, Ukraine

Last year, NATO discussed bids for membership from Ukraine and Georgia - a move that angered Moscow. Ties were further strained last August when Russia sent extra troops into Georgia in the midst of a dispute over two Georgian separatist regions: South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Neither the president nor the NATO chief mentioned the conflict, nor did they specifically talk about the prospects¹⁰ that one day Georgia and Ukraine might be admitted to the alliance.

Instead, they talked about their support for NATO enlargement in general. And the NATO secretary-general stressed that despite their differences with Russia, the stakes are too high to turn away.

"NATO needs Russia and Russia needs NATO so let us work on the things we agree on. And let us not hide our disagreements and let us realize also that this relationship can and in my opinion should be strengthened," said Scheffer.

The gathering¹¹ on April 3 and 4 will be the last NATO summit for Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. His term as secretary-general runs out in July.

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 hoop   

n.（篮球）篮圈，篮

参考例句：

• The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
• The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。

3 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 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。

6 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

7 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

8 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

9 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

10 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

11 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。