VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Meets With Abbas, Expresses Hope for Midea

U.S. President George Bush says he is still hopeful that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement can be reached. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports that Mr. Bush spoke¹ during talks at the White House with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
　
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (left) and President Bush, 25 Sep 2008

For months, President Bush has been saying a peace deal is possible before he leaves office in January.

But now, his comments are more measured. With a transition of power underway in Israel and time running out for major concessions², Mr. Bush is saying only that he is hopeful.

He told President Abbas that he will do all he can to spur progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state.

"As you know, I have four months left in office. And I am hopeful the vision that you and I have worked on can come to pass," he said.

President Bush said it will be hard work. But he said there is plenty of desire and determination.

Mahmoud Abbas vowed³ to continue the search for a two-state solution with Israel. He said hope will remain, adding that the Palestinian people cannot live without it.

Israel and the Palestinians revived peace talks after a summit last November in the United States. President Bush has made two trips this year to the Middle East to help move the process along.

But so far, the negotiations⁴ have yielded little. And there has been almost no progress on the most contentious⁵ issues, such as the status of Jerusalem and the borders of a Palestinian state.

Further complicating⁶ matters is the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- one of the key players in the peace process. His designated successor is Tzipi Livni, who has been serving as foreign minister. She has signaled her intent to keep the negotiations going. But analysts⁷ say her initial focus will likely be on building a governing coalition⁸.

 

1 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。

2 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 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。

5 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

6 complicating   

使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• High spiking fever with chills is suggestive of a complicating pylephlebitis. 伴有寒战的高热，暗示合并门静脉炎。
• In America these actions become executive puberty rites, complicating relationships that are already complicated enough. 在美国，这些行动成了行政青春期的惯例，使本来已经够复杂的关系变得更复杂了。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。