2006年VOA标准英语-Bush, German Chancellor Merkel Pledge Coop

By Scott Stearns
Washington
03 May 2006

German Chancellor¹ Angela Merkel (left) with President Bush  
  
President Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel say they will continue to work together in a diplomatic effort to convince Iran to stop enriching uranium. President Bush says Iran is secretly developing a nuclear weapon. Iran says its nuclear program is meant to generate electricity.

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Speaking through a translator, Chancellor Merkel said she and President Bush are in total agreement that under no circumstances should Iran be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. "We are in agreement also that a diplomatic solution needs to be found and we do see good chances of bringing this about, but we also think that it is essential in this context that the clear resolve of the international community is shown by standing² united by showing cohesion³ on this matter," she said.

Chancellor Merkel says it is crucial to draw as many partners as possible into the process to clearly show Iran that its uranium enrichment is unacceptable.

Her White House meeting comes one week after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia and China oppose sanctions and could use their Security Council vetoes to block any resolution making compulsory⁴ previous requests that Iran stop enriching uranium.

Britain and France Wednesday introduced a resolution that would obligate Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities. The head of Iran's nuclear program said the nation has enriched uranium to the upper end of the range needed to make fuel for reactors⁵.

President Bush said it is an important achievement that the international community is now united behind the goal of stopping Iran from having a nuclear weapon or the capacity to make such a weapon. "The Chancellor and I, of course, obviously agree on that but so do other partners in this effort such as the Russians. They agree that the Iranians should not have nuclear. It's a good starting point. And now we are talking about the tactics, how to achieve that objective. One such tactic⁶ is to go to the United Nations Security Council," he said.

President Bush says Iran must understand that the international opposition⁷ to its nuclear program will not fold, that the partnership⁸ is strong, and that for the sake of world peace, Tehran should abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

After their Oval Office meeting, Chancellor Merkel and President Bush had some private time in the White House residence before dinner. The German Chancellor delivers a speech to business leaders in New York Thursday before returning to Washington where she will be the first German leader to address a meeting of the American Jewish Community.

She will be joined at ceremonies marking that group's 100th anniversary by President Bush and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

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 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 cohesion   

n.团结，凝结力

参考例句：

• I had to bring some cohesion into the company.我得使整个公司恢复凝聚力。
• The power of culture is deeply rooted in the vitality,creativity and cohesion of a nation. 文化的力量，深深熔铸在民族的生命力、创造力和凝聚力之中。

4 compulsory   

n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的

参考例句：

• Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
• Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

5 reactors   

起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆

参考例句：

• The TMI nuclear facility has two reactors. 三哩岛核设施有两个反应堆。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The earliest production reactors necessarily used normal uranium as fuel. 最早为生产用的反应堆，必须使用普通铀作为燃料。

6 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 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。