VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Aims to Strengthen Relations on European T

By Paula Wolfson
White House
06 June 2008

Less than one month after his return from the Middle East, U.S. President George Bush is heading abroad again, this time to Europe. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports, he will hold talks with European Union leaders and visit the capitals of key allies: Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain.
　

President George W. Bush waves to reporters from White House lawn, 23 May 2008

You might call this George W. Bush's farewell tour. As his presidency¹ draws to a close, he is making the rounds of European capitals - stressing the importance of trans-Atlantic relations.

Those ties have been strained throughout much of his presidency, in large part due to the war in Iraq.

Tensions rose during the run up to the war, and have only begun to ease a bit in the last few years. The White House has made a concerted effort to reach out to Europeans.

The president's message: there is more that unites us than divides us.

"The alliance of Europe and North America is the main pillar of our security," he said. "Our robust² trade is one of the engines of the world economy. Our example of economic and political freedom gives hope to millions, who are weary of poverty and oppression."

Mr. Bush visited Europe three times in the 12 months following his second inauguration³. And, in February 2005, he became the first U.S. president to set foot in the Brussels headquarters of the European Union.

"Our strong friendship is essential to peace and prosperity across the globe, and no temporary debate, no passing disagreement of governments, no power on earth will ever divide us," the president said.

The goal was to change the tone, to ease the bitterness of the war, according to John K. Glenn, who heads the foreign policy program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

"What we have seen over the past couple years is, you might think of it as a kind of a gentleman's agreement not to discuss Iraq," he said. "And, instead, trans-Atlantic relations have been fairly bolstered⁵ by a vision of a kind of global agenda - what are the challenges that face us all? And that list is fairly formidable."

The list includes Iran, the rise of China and Russia, and economics - especially trade.

On Iran in particular, President Bush embraced the European diplomatic initiative led by Germany, France and Britain.

"The U.S. and Europe rarely have the kind of big, deep disagreements that they used to have over Iraq," said Glenn. "There certainly is [was] the complaint about a lack of consultation⁶ and coordination⁷ that we used to hear, in particular, over the issues of the Middle East. Instead, U.S.-European relations seem to be on a fairly functional⁸, fairly working level and to be reasonably successful."

In the final years of his term, President Bush has seen a new group of European leaders come to the fore⁴ who have signaled more of a willingness to work with the United States. Angela Merkel of Germany and Nicholas Sarkozy of France have brought about great change according to veteran journalist Reginald Dale, who is now an analyst⁹ with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
　

President Nicolas Sarkozy (file)

"Sarkozy even ran for office with the nickname of 'the American,' and made no secret of the fact that he wanted to patch up relations - not only patch up relations with the United States, but that he admired the United States," he said.

Dale says that fondness for the U.S. may be bearing fruit.

"The whole climate in Europe has actually moved more favorably from President Bush's point of view," he said. "And even - we are beginning to see slightly less anti-Americanism in Europe at the popular level."

The improvement in the image of the United States, according to European public opinion surveys, is slight but real. In part, experts say, it may be because of the prospect¹⁰ of change in the White House as Americans prepare to elect a new president.

But Dale says it may also be a function of a growing realization¹¹ that the two sides need each other.

"The relationship between Europe and the United States will be absolutely key to solving the problems of the 21st century," he said. "Where else can the United States ultimately look for allies but Europe? It has to be Europe."

Dale says, despite their fundamental problems, the Americans and the Europeans share basic values of the rule of law, democracy and freedom. He says their bond is unique, and unlike any other in the world.

1 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。

2 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

3 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

4 fore   

adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部

参考例句：

• Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
• I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。

5 bolstered   

v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• He bolstered his plea with new evidence. 他举出新的证据来支持他的抗辩。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The data must be bolstered by inferences and indirect estimates of varying degrees of reliability. 这些资料必须借助于推理及可靠程度不同的间接估计。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 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。

8 functional   

adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的

参考例句：

• The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。
• The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

11 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。