2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Welcomes Kazakh Leader to White House

By Scott Stearns
White House
29 September 2006

President Bush and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev say they are united in fighting terrorism and spreading democracy in Central Asia.  Some human rights groups are criticizing President Nazarbayev's own commitment to democracy inside Kazakhstan.

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		President Bush meets with Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the Oval Office of the White House

Welcoming President Nazarbayev to the Oval Office, President Bush said the oil-rich nation has been a key ally in the fight against terrorism.

Mr. Bush says the United States and Kazakhstan are together in the effort to defeat extremism and support forces of moderation throughout the world. He thanked President Nazarbayev for contributing to the fight against terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Some human rights groups, including Freedom House and Human Rights Watch, had called on President Bush to focus on civil liberties in Kazakhstan during his talks with President Nazarbayev.

Since independence in 1991, Mr. Nazarbayev has won a series of tainted¹ elections in a nation where opposition² parties are banned or denied registration³.

Perhaps mindful of the controversy⁴ surrounding this visit, the Kazakh government took out a series of newspaper advertisements this week, including a four-page supplement in The New York Times extolling⁵ Kazakhstan's relationship with the United States.

During their White House talks, President Bush said the men discussed their commitment to institutions that enable liberty to flourish.

"I have watched very carefully the development of this important country from one that was in the Soviet⁶ sphere to one that now is a free nation," said Mr. Bush.  "And I appreciate your leadership, Mr. President."

Kazakhstan exports about a million barrels of oil a day, and has estimated reserves of more than 100 billion barrels. Much of the $30 million of investment in the country's oil sector⁷ has come from U.S. firms, including Chevron⁸, Exxon-Mobil and ConocoPhillips.

Speaking through an interpreter, President Nazarbayev thanked President Bush for an economic and diplomatic partnership⁹ that he says has benefited both countries.

"Kazakhstan today is very proud that we have the highest rate of economic growth in the world, and a lot of countries learn from the experience of Kazakhstan today," he noted¹⁰.  "But that wouldn't be possible if [the] Taleban [had not been] defeated in Afghanistan.  And that war was led by United States."

President Nazarbayev's visit also included talks with the president's father, former President George Herbert Walker Bush, at the family home in the northeast state of Maine.

1 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

4 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 extolling   

v.赞美( extoll的现在分词 )；赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He never stops extolling the virtues of the free market. 他不停地颂扬自由市场的种种好处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They kept extolling my managerial skills. 他们不停地赞美我的管理技能。 来自辞典例句

6 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 chevron   

n.V形臂章；V形图案

参考例句：

• He wore shoulderstrap rank slides with sergeant's chevrons.他佩戴标示级别的肩章，上面有中士的V形标志。
• The chevron or arrow road sign indicates a sharp bend to the left or right.V形或箭头路标表示有向左或向右的急转弯。

9 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。

10 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。