VOA常速英语2008年-President Bush Praises Croatia's Embrace of Dem

By Paula Wolfson
05 April 2008

U.S. President George W. Bush is welcoming two new members to NATO. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush hailed the transformation¹ of the Balkans in a speech in a town square in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.

Croatians filled St. Mark's square Saturday to celebrate, standing² in front of the great stone cathedral that has watched over Zagreb for centuries.

President Bush told the crowd, "The great church in this square has stood since the Middle Ages. Over the centuries it has seen long dark winters of occupation and tyranny and war. But the spring is here at last."

Fresh from the NATO summit that invited Croatia to join the alliance, President Bush talked about how that country has left a troubled past behind to become a free state.

"The Croatian people have overcome war and hardship to build peaceful relations with your neighbors and to build a maturing democracy in one of the most beautiful countries on the face of the earth," said Mr. Bush.

Croatia was one of three Balkan countries deemed by NATO leaders to meet the criteria³ for membership. Two - Croatia and Albania - are beginning the admission process immediately. The third - Macedonia - must wait until it settles a name dispute with its neighbor, Greece.

Leaders of all three countries were on hand in Zagreb for the celebration. As they looked on, President Bush made a vow⁴.  He said, "Henceforth, should any danger threaten your people, America and the NATO alliance will stand with you. And no one will be able to take your freedom away."

He noted⁵ that Croatia, Albania and Macedonia have all deployed⁶ troops to Afghanistan, and Croatian and Albanian forces have served in Iraq. He said as countries that have experienced life under repression⁷, they are serving as an example to others.

"There are those who actually wonder if people were better off under their old tyranny. You can tell them that freedom is the only real path to prosperity, security and peace," said the U.S. president.

From Croatia, Mr. Bush heads to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi for a final meeting with Vladimir Putin before he leaves the Russian presidency⁸.

Their talks - at a Russian presidential retreat - are expected to focus on U.S. plans to put a missile defense⁹ system in central Europe.

Russia is opposed to the idea, saying it could lead to a new arms race. President Bush has tried to reassure¹⁰ Moscow, saying the system is designed to counter a threat from rogue¹¹ states in the Middle East, such as Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently met with Russian leaders in Moscow and says the U.S. laid out ideas the Russians found useful.  She said, "We hope that we can move beyond that to an understanding that we will all have an interest in cooperation on missile defense, but we will see. "

A senior White House official says President Bush has described the session in Sochi as a meeting of "two old warhorses" - a reference to a long working relationship that is nearing an end as both men prepare to leave the presidency of their respective nations.

1 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

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 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。

4 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

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 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

8 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

11 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。