PBS高端访谈:G7峰会的重点是希腊和俄罗斯的问题

 　　ALISON STEWART:So, what can we expect the G7 to accomplish in just two days' time?

　　I'm joined via Skype by Wall Street Journal reporter Anton Troianovski, who is covering the summit in Germany.

　　So, Anton, what are the two biggest issues being discussed at this G7?

　　ANTON TROIANOVSKI, The Wall Street Journal: Well, there's a lot of different things on the agenda, but the issues looming¹ over all of it are Greece and Russia.

　　Greece, as you know, is locked into these — this kind of showdown-type negotiation² with its international creditors³. They desperately⁴ need billions of euros and more bailout funds. But the negotiations⁵ between the creditors and Greece remain very tense.

　　And, on Russia, President Obama landed here this morning with the goal of making sure that the Europeans are united behind maintaining sanctions against Russia as long as the violence in Ukraine continues. And for now, it appears that that is going to happen.

　　ALISON STEWART: What has been the impact of a Putin-less summit? What has his absence meant?

　　ANTON TROIANOVSKI: I mean, it shows this new division that we're seeing in the world, this — this issue that a lot of people are referring to as a new cold war.

　　Chancellor⁶ Angela Merkel here in Germany, who is hosting this summit, has come under a fair amount of criticism here at home that Putin is excluded. You know, people say, how can you solve international issues where Russia is a key player without Moscow at the table?

　　Her response is that the Group of Seven is not just an economic group or a political group, but it's also a group of democracies with shared values.

　　ALISON STEWART: Angela Merkel, Chancellor Merkel, it was a fairly warm welcome for President Obama, although she did have a few pointed⁷ references to the surveillance of her cell phone or the surveillance of her particularly.

　　How would you characterize that relationship now?

　　ANTON TROIANOVSKI: Well, the references today were very oblique⁸, as the thing usually is with Angela Merkel.

　　She did mention, basically, that, you know, despite some differences of opinion between Germany and the United States, the alliance stayed strong. You know, the U.S. and Berlin have maintained a united front, by and large, in confronting Moscow over Ukraine. Merkel has led the European sanctions push against Russia, the European diplomatic push with Russia.

　　So, that appears to be working. And you could certainly tell, when Obama met Merkel today on this town square near the resort where they're meeting, she really went all out to say that, the way he put it, U.S.-German alliance was one of the strongest the world has ever seen.

　　ALISON STEWART: We should mention, of course, there have been thousands of protesters at this G7 summit.

　　What is it they are protesting? What seems to be the most important issue to the activists⁹?

　　ANTON TROIANOVSKI: You know, here in Germany, it is probably the transatlantic trade agreement that the E.U. and the U.S. are negotiating right now.

　　A lot of people here see this Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership¹⁰, as it's called, or TTIP, as an agreement that will lower consumer protections here in Germany, bring, you know, American cowboy capitalism¹¹ to Europe. So, there is a fair amount of opposition¹² to that here.

　　Trade is on the agenda to be discussed here at the G7. TTIP is one of the main economic goals that Merkel has over the next couple of years. Climate policy is going to be another key issue here, ahead of the big climate conference in Paris later this year.

　　It's a whole grab bag of things that people are protesting here. But we should also say, for now, it's been quite peaceful, compared especially to some of the past G7, G8 summits.

　　ALISON STEWART: Anton Troianovski, thank you so much for sharing your reporting.

　　ANTON TROIANOVSKI: Sure thing. Thank you.

1 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

2 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

3 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

5 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。

6 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。

7 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

8 oblique   

adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的

参考例句：

• He made oblique references to her lack of experience.他拐弯抹角地说她缺乏经验。
• She gave an oblique look to one side.她向旁边斜看了一眼。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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。

11 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。

12 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。