VOA常速英语2007年-France's Sarkozy Pledges Stronger Alliance With

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
07 November 2007

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, addressing a joint¹ meeting of the U.S. Congress, has pledged to strengthen ties with the United States, saying Americans can count on France in the war on terrorism and extremism. VOA Correspondent Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, where the French leader received a warm welcome from members of Congress.

In an address full of historical references to the founding of the United States, its culture and political, philosophical², and social values, President Sarkozy paid tribute to two centuries of friendship, saying that despite differences the two nations will stand together.

Mr. Sarkozy spoke³ in French but his words were translated simultaneously⁴.

"In times of difficulty, in times of hardship, America and France have always stood side by side, they have always supported one another, they have helped one another, and each of us, America and France, have fought for each other's freedom," said President Sarkozy.

U.S. sacrifices for Europe, and its help with Europe's reconstruction⁵ after World War II cannot be forgotten, Sarkozy said, along with America's role in the Cold War.

"I remember the Berlin crisis and President Kennedy who unhesitatingly risked engaging the United States in the most destructive of wars so that Europe may preserve the freedom for which the American people had already sacrificed so much," said Mr. Sarkozy. "To forget that, for a man of my generation, would be tantamount to self-denial."

In recent years, relations between the U.S. and France have not always been cordial. The previous French president Jacques Chirac opposed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

President Sarkozy did not mention Iraq in his speech.

Turning to current challenges, he said France and the United States must stand together to defend and promote the values of freedom and democracy.

Referring to the September 11, 2001 al-Qaida attacks on the United States, he pledged that France will stand with the U.S. against terrorism.

"The terrorists had thought that they would weaken you, but they made you greater," he said. "And the people of America were admired worldwide for its courage. That is the truth. And from day one, France decided⁶ to participate shoulder to shoulder with you in the war in Afghanistan. And let me tell you solemnly today: France will remain engaged in Afghanistan as long as it takes, because what is at stake in that country is the future of our values and that of the Atlantic Alliance."

President Sarkozy also pledged France's support in nuclear nonproliferation efforts, reiterating⁷ his pledge to work against Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

"I say this as I stand before you: The prospect⁸ of an Iran armed with nuclear weapons is unacceptable for France," said Nicolas Sarkozy.

On the Middle East, President Sarkozy used his address to urge Israelis and Palestinians to work together for peace, saying the status quo risks delivering Palestinian society to extremists who want to set Islam against the West.

France and the United States, he said, must help the Lebanese people affirm their independence, sovereignty, freedom and democracy. Without mentioning Syria by name, he said France will not accept attempts to subjugate⁹ the Lebanese people.

President Sarkozy also repeated his call for Europe to assume more of the burden for its own security, adding that the European Union and NATO should be able to respond more effectively to crises.

1 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。

2 philosophical   

adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的

参考例句：

• The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
• She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。

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 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

5 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 reiterating   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He keeps reiterating his innocence. 他一再申明他无罪。
• The Chinese government also sent a note to the British government, reiterating its position. 中国政府同时将此立场照会英国政府。

8 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

9 subjugate   

v.征服；抑制

参考例句：

• Imperialism has not been able to subjugate China.帝国主义不能征服中国。
• After having been subjugated to ambition,your maternal instincts are at last starting to assert themselves.你那被雄心壮志压制已久的母性本能终于开始展现出来。