2006年VOA标准英语-Bush, Olmert Discuss Peace, Regional Secur

By Paula Wolfson
White House
24 May 2006

The search for Middle East peace and the threat to regional security posed by Iran's nuclear intentions topped the agenda when President Bush met Tuesday with the new Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert.

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George Bush (r) and Ehud Olmert at their White House press conference 
  

Prime Minister Olmert came to the White House hoping to win support for his plan to set new borders for the West Bank if negotiations² with the Palestinians remain stalled.

President Bush appeared intrigued³ with the plan, but he stopped short of a full endorsement⁴.

"Today, Prime Minister Olmert shared with me some of his ideas - I would call them bold ideas," said President Bush. "These ideas could lead to a two state solution if a pathway to progress on the road map is not open in the period ahead."

The president stressed he believes the best path to peace remains⁵ a negotiated settlement. He urged Israel to reach out to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and he called once again on the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Authority to change its ways.

"Hamas needs to make a strategic choice for peace," he said. "The United States and the international community have made clear that Hamas must recognize Israel's right to exist, must abandon terror, and must accept all previous agreements between the Palestinian Authority and Israel."

Speaking at a joint⁶ news conference after the first round of their White House talks, Prime Minister Olmert said he hopes to meet with President Abbas soon. But he said the rise of Hamas in parliamentary elections has complicated matters.

"Despite our sincere desire for negotiation¹, we cannot wait indefinitely for the Palestinians to change," said Ehud Olmert. "We cannot be held hostage by a terrorist entity⁷ which refuses to change or to promote dialogue. If we come to the conclusion that no progress is possible, we will be compelled to try a different route."

The prime minister's plan calls for relinquishing⁸ some small Israeli settlements, annexing⁹ major ones, and unilaterally redrawing the borders of the West Bank.

President Bush said it warrants further study, adding Mr. Olmert wants a two-state solution and sees unilateral action as a last resort.

"In order to solve this problem there needs to be willingness to take the lead and creativity and the desire to follow through on the vision," he said. "The most important aspect of peace is to have a vision for peace."

The other key issue on the agenda for the White House talks was Iran and its nuclear ambitions.

Prime Minister Olmert, who has been pushing strong international pressure on Tehran, called Iran a major threat. President Bush said once again that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, and that he aims to resolve the matter peacefully and diplomatically.

1 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。

2 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。

3 intrigued   

adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• You've really intrigued me—tell me more! 你说的真有意思—再给我讲一些吧！
• He was intrigued by her story. 他被她的故事迷住了。

4 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

5 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。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

8 relinquishing   

交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃

参考例句：

• The international relinquishing of sovereignty would have to spring from the people. 在国际间放弃主权一举要由人民提出要求。
• We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. 我们很明白，没有人会为了废除权力而夺取权力。 来自英汉文学

9 annexing   

并吞( annex的现在分词 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）

参考例句：

• In addition to annexing territory, they exacted huge indemnities. 割地之外，又索去了巨大的赔款。
• He succeeded in annexing all the property of Hindley's and the Linton's. 他成功的占有了亨得利和林顿的所有财产。