2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Promotes Justice and Prosperity in La

By Michael Bowman
White House
04 May 2006

President Bush says the United States remains¹ committed to promoting justice and prosperity in Latin America, and is backing its words with actions and aid. Mr. Bush met with Uruguay's president at the White House at a time when the voices of populism and economic nationalism appear to be growing stronger in parts of the hemisphere.

----------------------------------------------------

Tabare Vazquez (l) with George W. Bush at the White House  
  

President Bush said he discussed a wide range of subjects with his Uruguayan counterpart, Tabare Vazquez, from expanding student exchanges to promoting renewable sources of energy.

"We talked about extending our commercial relations," said President Bush. "I shared some thoughts with the president about my deep desire to help countries become free so that this world is more peaceful."

The two leaders sat side-by-side in the Oval office at the conclusion of an hour-long meeting. President Vazquez echoed Mr. Bush's call for stronger bilateral² trade relations. But he made no mention of stalled negotiations³ for the U.S.-backed Free Trade Area of the Americas, which Uruguay and other South American nations have criticized as likely to provide unfair advantages to heavily subsidized U.S. agricultural producers.

Instead, Mr. Vazquez delivered a message to his people. "To the Uruguayans who are watching, I want to say that we can work together so that all Uruguayans can live better. We can expand education, improve health care, and generate jobs with adequate salaries," he said.

The tone employed by the moderate, center-left Mr. Vazquez contrasts sharply with that of Venezuelan socialist⁴ firebrand Hugo Chavez, who has accused President Bush of exporting imperialism⁵ and planning to invade his country, and Bolivian populist Evo Morales, who recently nationalized his country's vast natural gas operations. While relations have cooled considerably⁶ between the United States and Venezuela, President Vasquez, like President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, are regarded as pragmatic left-of-center leaders with whom the United States has been able to forge a productive relationship.

Nevertheless, White House spokesman Scott McClellan was asked if Venezuela and Bolivia constitute a "growing cancer" that is tilting⁷ Latin America toward an anti-U.S. stance.

"There are many countries in this hemisphere that are committed to moving forward on democracy, good governance and rule of law," said Scott McClellan. "Those are values and principles that most of this hemisphere shares, and our relations will continue to strengthen with those who are committed to the principles that we hold dear."

McClellan added that Presidents Bush and Vazquez affirmed their shared commitment to freedom and democracy during their discussions.

Mexican singer Graciela and George Bush celebrate 5 de Mayo at the White House  
  
Later, President Bush participated in a White House event commemorating⁸ Mexico's "Cinco de Mayo" [May 5th] festivities. With Mexico's ambassador to Washington in attendance, Mr. Bush noted⁹ the fierce debate gripping the United States over illegal immigration. The president said the United States and Mexico are bound by ties of history, family, commerce, culture and values. He said Mexican-Americans have made valuable contributions to the United States, and that, when it comes to immigration, the United States does not have to choose between being a compassionate¹⁰ society and a lawful¹¹ society.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 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。

4 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

5 imperialism   

n.帝国主义，帝国主义政策

参考例句：

• They held the imperialism in contempt.他们鄙视帝国主义。
• Imperialism has not been able to subjugate China.帝国主义不能征服中国。

6 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

7 tilting   

倾斜，倾卸

参考例句：

• For some reason he thinks everyone is out to get him, but he's really just tilting at windmills. 不知为什么他觉得每个人都想害他，但其实他不过是在庸人自扰。
• So let us stop bickering within our ranks.Stop tilting at windmills. 所以，让我们结束内部间的争吵吧！再也不要去做同风车作战的蠢事了。

8 commemorating   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements. 他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The post office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers. 邮局发行了一个纪念美国著名演艺人员的系列邮票。 来自互联网

9 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。

10 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

11 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。