VOA标准英语 Obama to Announce Push For Nuclear Disarmament

U.S. President Barack Obama is reaching out to the European public as well as its leaders, promising¹ a new era in ties across the Atlantic. NATO allies gathered for summit talks on the French German border, Mr. Obama actively² sought support for his new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy, and announced plans for a push for nuclear disarmament.
　
US President Barack Obama at arrival for NATO summit in Strasbourg, France, 03 Apr 2009

The president is reaching out directly to the European public. "What we thought was important was for me to have an opportunity to not only speak with you but also to hear from you, because that's ultimately how we can learn about each other," he said.

At a sports arena³ in Strasbourg, France, the president began a dialogue with French and German students.

It had all the trappings of a campaign rally. And indeed it was - a campaign for the hearts and minds of Europeans.

It was at this event, not a formal press conference or photo-opportunity, that he chose to make a big announcement. "This weekend in Prague I will lay out the agenda to seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons," he said.

He offered few details about the speech he will give Sunday in the Czech capital. But he told Europeans nuclear prolifieration is not just America's problem, but theirs as well. "Even with the Cold War now over, the spread of nuclear weapons or the theft of nuclear material could lead to the extermination⁴ of any city on the planet," he said.

Mr. Obama told a young German that the threat has not lessened⁵ just because there is a new administration in Washington. "I think that it is important for Europe to understand that even though I'm now President and George Bush is no longer president, al Qaida is still a threat, and that we cannot pretend somehow that because Barack Hussein Obama got elected as president, suddenly everything is going to be okay," he said.

In the hours leading up to the NATO summit, Mr. Obama also held individual talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor⁶ Angela Merkel.

Speaking at a joint⁷ news conference, Mr. Sarkozy said France totally supports the new US strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and will send more trainers to work with the Afghan armed forces and police.

And Chancellor Merkel conceded the new American strategy is very much in line with the approach she has advocated for some time.

Security is tight throughout the border region as France and Germany co-host this summit. Protesters have threatened to disrupt the proceedings⁸. But none of the protests are directed at Mr. Obama. And in the center of Strasbourg cheering crowds pressed against the barricades⁹ for a look at the new American president.

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 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。

3 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

4 extermination   

n.消灭，根绝

参考例句：

• All door and window is sealed for the extermination of mosquito. 为了消灭蚊子，所有的门窗都被封闭起来了。 来自辞典例句
• In doing so they were saved from extermination. 这样一来却使它们免于绝灭。 来自辞典例句

5 lessened   

减少的，减弱的

参考例句：

• Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来，多少削弱了演讲的力量。
• The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行，住在城内的中产家庭减少了。

6 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。

7 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。

8 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

9 barricades   

路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
• Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。