Obama, G20 Press Europe On Economic Plan

 LOS CABOS, Mexico - Europe's financial crisis took center stage on Monday as the Group of 20 economic summit began in Mexico.  President Barack Obama and other G20 leaders continued to urge European nations to move forward with a growth plan. 

Amid the splendor¹ of the resort area of Los Cabos, the leaders of the world's most influential² economies expressed their concern about the direction of Europe's economy.

After meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, President Obama joined those putting pressure on Europe to advance a plan to address its banking³ and debt crisis. “A lot of attention has been centered on Europe.  Now is the time, as we have discussed, to make sure that all of us join to do what is necessary to stabilize⁴ the world financial system," he said. 

One of the president's top economic advisers⁵, Undersecretary of the Treasury⁶ Lael Brainard, told reporters that the United States is seeking an answer from Europe soon. “We do not expect decisions until all euro area leaders have their summit at the end of June, but we do expect to see a clear direction of travel coming out of Los Cabos," he said. 

Brainard said the United States hopes that direction will be toward more projects that will stimulate⁷ European economic growth.

President Obama discussed the situation with German Chancellor⁸ Angela Merkel, and aides say he was encouraged by what he heard about efforts to address the crisis.  Mr. Obama called a meeting for Monday night with European leaders.

The president's highest-profile meeting of the day was with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their first since Mr. Putin recently returned to office.

The meeting was dominated by the violence in Syria, whose government Russia supports and, some reports say, has armed.

After they met for two hours, it was unclear whether Mr. Obama was able to convince his Russian counterpart to persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down. “We agree that we need to see a cessation of the violence, that a political process has to be created to prevent civil war and the kind of horrific deaths that we have seen over the last several weeks," he said. 

President Putin spoke⁹ very little about Syria, saying only that he and Mr. Obama had found “commonalities” on that and other issues.

Mr. Putin spoke very little at the press conference, and seldom made eye contact with Mr. Obama.

The U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, called the chemistry between the two leaders “businesslike and cordial.”  He dismissed speculation¹⁰ that Mr. Putin's expressionless demeanor¹¹ meant trouble in U.S.-Russia relations. “I have been in a lot of meetings with Putin.  I have watched a lot of video of him.  There was nothing extraordinary.  That is the way he looks.  That is the way he acts.  I would not read anything into that at all," he said. 

Mr. Obama thanked Mr. Putin for hosting the current Moscow negotiations¹² on Iran's nuclear program.

He also expressed gratitude¹³ for Russia's work on the Northern Distribution Network, which supplies U.S. troops in Afghanistan. 

President Obama again called for the U.S. Congress to repeal¹⁴ the Jackson-Vanik amendment¹⁵, a 1974 law which denies Russia top U.S. trading status.  He said the move would stimulate U.S.-Russia trade

1 splendor   

n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌

参考例句：

• Never in his life had he gazed on such splendor.他生平从没有见过如此辉煌壮丽的场面。
• All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend.人世间所有的荣华富贵不如一个好朋友。

2 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

3 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

4 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。

5 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

6 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

7 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

8 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。

9 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。

10 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

11 demeanor   

n.行为；风度

参考例句：

• She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
• The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。

12 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。

13 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。

14 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

15 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。