VOA常速英语2007年-Bush Meets with Abbas, Olmert, Says Tough Talks

By Scott Stearns
White House
28 November 2007

President Bush welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert back to the White House Wednesday, a day after the two sides agreed to resume peace talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

President Bush met separately with both leaders before the three men spoke¹ together in the Oval Office. Speaking to reporters in the Rose Garden following their talks, President Bush said the agreement to resume negotiations², after a seven-year hiatus, is a hopeful beginning but not nearly as important as the days to come.

"I appreciate the commitment of these leaders to working hard to achieve peace," he said.  "I wouldn't be standing³ here if I didn't believe that peace was possible. And they wouldn't be here either if they didn't think peace was possible."

The White House session followed Tuesday's Middle East conference in Annapolis, Maryland where Israeli and Palestinian leaders pledged "vigorous, ongoing⁴ and continuing" negotiations toward an independent Palestinian state.

President Bush said both sides have accepted the goal of reaching an agreement by the end of 2008.  And he pledged U.S. help in that effort.

"One thing I have assured both gentlemen is that the United States will be actively⁵ engaged in the process, that we will use our power to help you as you come up with the necessary decisions to lay out a Palestinian state that will live side-by-side in peace with Israel," he added.

The president said it is important for the international community to support the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Russian news agencies are quoting Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying his country will host the next Middle East peace conference. He told the agencies on his way back from the Annapolis conference that the timing⁶ and agenda of that session have not yet been set.

Russia is a member of the so-called Quartet, which, along with the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, has been working to move the peace process forward.

1 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。

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 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

6 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。