VOA双语新闻 Bush Wraps Up European Tour

President Bush is on his way home after a five-day European tour aimed at mending trans-Atlantic ties, frayed¹ by the war in Iraq. Before leaving for Washington Mr. Bush met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bratislava, Slovakia.

布什总统在对欧洲结束了以修补因伊拉克战争而陷入紧张的美欧关系为目的的五天访问，正在返回美国的途中。布什总统星期四在斯洛伐克与俄罗斯总统普京见了面。

The issue that dominated the talks in Bratislava was Russia's commitment to democracy.

布什总统在布拉迪斯拉发与俄罗斯总统普京会谈的主要内容是俄罗斯对民主的承诺。

President Bush says he brought up a number of concerns involving the rule of law and individual freedoms. "I did so in a constructive² and friendly way. I reaffirmed my belief that it is democracy and freedom that bring true security and prosperity in every land," he said.

布什总统说，他向普京总统提出了一系列他所关注的问题，其中包括法治和个人自由。布什总统说，“我是用建设性和友好的方式提出这些问题的。我重申了我的信仰，那就是只有民主和自由才能给所有的国家带来真正的安全和繁荣。”

The Russian leader says they discussed the matter at length, and face-to-face. He says Russia made its decision to become a democracy 14 years ago, and there is no turning back. "Any kind of turn towards totalitarianism for Russia would be impossible, due to the condition of the Russian society," he said.

普京总统说，他们就这一问题进行了长时间、面对面的讨论。普京指出，俄罗斯十四年前就做出了走向民主的决定，俄罗斯不会走回头路。“考虑到俄罗斯社会目前的状况，俄罗斯要以任何方式重新回到极权统治的老路上去都是不可能的。”

The two leaders spoke³ at a news conference where some reporters engaged them in a debate on press freedom. In one way or another, all the questions dealt with the democracy issue. But the talks did cover other matters, reflecting the need for the two countries to work together, despite their differences.

布什和普京在记者会上都讲了话。记者们向两位领导人提问，引起了他们对新闻自由的争论。记者们的问题或多或少都与民主有关。但是布什与普京的会谈还是涉及了其他一些问题，这反映出美俄两国尽管存在分歧，但仍需要合作。

They agreed on the need to deal with Iran and North Korea's nuclear ambitions, and to improve security at U.S and Russian nuclear installations. During the summit, the two countries also signed a deal to curtail⁴ the spread of shoulder-fired missiles, the type of systems that could be used by terrorists to shoot down planes.

他们一致认为，美俄两国需要解决伊朗和北韩发展核武器的问题，需要加强对美国和俄罗斯核设施的安全保障。会谈中，美国和俄罗斯还签署了减少肩扛式导弹扩散的协定。恐怖分子可以用肩扛式导弹击落飞机。

President Bush said he and Mr. Putin have developed a relationship this is frank, candid⁵ and open. "We may not always agree with each other, and we haven't over the last four years, that is for certain, but we found a lot of agreement, a lot of common ground, and the world is better for it," he said.

布什总统说，他和普京总统的关系是坦率的、真诚的、开放的。布什总统说，“我们可能不会总是意见一致，事实上过去四年里我们也的确不总是意见一致，但是我们有很多一致的地方，也有很多共同的基础，世界也因此变得更好。”

Mr. Bush set the stage for his talks with President Putin earlier in the day, when he addressed the people of Slovakia, and praised the democratic change that has transformed the former Soviet⁶ bloc⁷.

布什总统早些时候为他与普京总统的会谈定下了基调。他向斯洛伐克人民发表演讲，赞扬了民主为这个前苏联集团成员国带来的变化。

He spoke in Bratislava's main square, packed with Slovaks who had braved the elements on a blustery winter day. The president recalled their triumph over communist rule, hailed their entry into NATO and the European Union, and cited the example they have set for others. "Every Slovak can be proud of these achievements. And the American people are proud to call you allies and friends and brothers in the cause of freedom," he said.

布什总统是在布拉迪斯拉发的主要广场发表演讲的。斯洛伐克人不顾寒冷，挤满了广场。布什总统赞扬斯洛伐克人战胜共产党统治、加入世界贸易组织和欧洲联盟，为其他国家树立了榜样。布什总统说，“每一个斯洛伐克人都应该为这些成就感到骄傲。美国人民也骄傲地把斯洛伐克称为民主事业中的盟国、朋友和兄弟。”

It was the first trip ever by a U.S. president to Slovakia. Mr. Bush noted⁸ this fairly new democracy has sent peacekeepers to Kosovo, election observers to Ukraine, and 100 troops to Iraq. He said the Slovak people are showing the power of a small nation to spread liberty around the world.

布什总统对斯洛伐克的访问是美国总统第一次访问这个国家。布什总统指出，新兴民主国家斯洛伐克向科索沃派遣了维和部队，向乌克兰派遣了选举观察员，还向伊拉克派遣了一百名军人。布什总统说，斯洛伐克虽然是一个小国，但是斯洛伐克人民在向全世界传播自由的过程中却显示出了强大的力量。
 

1 frayed   

adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His shirt was frayed. 他的衬衫穿破了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The argument frayed their nerves. 争辩使他们不快。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

3 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。

4 curtail   

vt.截短，缩短；削减

参考例句：

• The government hopes to curtail public spending.政府希望缩减公共事业开支。
• The minister had to curtail his visit.部长不得不缩短访问日期。

5 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

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 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

8 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。