VOA标准英语2009-French, German Leaders Commemorate Armistice

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
11 November 2009

 
German Chancellor¹ Angela Merkel (2nd r) and French Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy (3rd r) lay a wreath of flowers at the Tomb of Unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, 11 Nov 2009
Two days after 20th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall, German and French leaders met in Paris in another symbol of growing European unity², to jointly³ commemorate⁴ Armistice⁵ Day. This is the first time a German leader has attended the Paris ceremony marking the end of World War I.

On a cold and gray morning, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy together rekindled⁶ a flame before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Champs Elysees.

The two European leaders listened to a French army choir⁷ sang the Marseillaise and then the German anthem⁸, marking a French-German friendship that grew from the ashes of the two world wars. France and Germany helped found the European Union and are still considered the main engines driving the 27-member bloc⁹.

In a speech at the tomb, Mr. Sarkozy said Germany and France share the same values, the same ambitions for Europe and the same currency. He said the friendship between the two countries should be treasured and when the two work together, they accomplish great things.

Ties have grown closer between France and Germany over the years. Relations between former French president Jacques Chirac and German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder were particularly strong and the two forged a united front against the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Mrs. Merkel and Mr. Sarkozy are not as close. France and Germany disagree in some areas, like cutting government deficits¹⁰. But experts like Jean-Luc Sauron say the French-German relationship still matters.

A professor at Paris-Dauphine University, Sauron told French radio it is important for the two countries to go beyond symbols like Armistice Day. One test will be next week, when European Union leaders gather to choose the first president of the European Union. France and Germany are expected to support the same candidate for the post.  

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

4 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

5 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

6 rekindled   

v.使再燃( rekindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• As soon as they met again his dormant love for her was rekindled. 他们一见面，他对她的旧情如乾柴烈火般又重新燃起。 来自辞典例句
• Ive found rekindled my interest in re-reading the books. 我发觉这提起了我再次阅读这些书的兴趣。 来自互联网

7 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

8 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

9 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。

10 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句