VOA标准英语2008年-Mediterranean Coutries Set up Partnership

Heads of state from North Africa, the Middle East and Europe launched a new Euro-Mediterranean¹ Partnership² Sunday, aimed to bring the region closer politically, economically and culturally. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from Paris.
　
French President Nicolas Sarkozy greets Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak during arrivals for a Mediterranean Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, 13 Jul 2008

The new partnership aims to bring the Mediterranean region and Europe closer together in concrete ways, namely half a dozen projects agreed to by 43 heads of state after four hours of talks in Paris. The projects range from infrastructure³ and transport to solar energy and creating a regional university.

The summit's host, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, which holds the rotating European Union presidency⁴, called the summit a success.

The summit brought together a large number of participants and leaders had agreed to a common declaration and to concrete projects.

But it was the politics of the summit, and who attended, that captured the media's interest. Many Arab heads of state were present, as was Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. Mr. Olmert reportedly held indirect talks with Syria in Paris, with Turkey acting⁵ as mediator⁶.

Mr. Olmert also held talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas earlier Sunday, and the presidents of Syria and Lebanon announced Saturday they were establishing full diplomatic relations for the first time in decades.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak - who co-chaired the summit with Mr. Sarkozy - discounted rumours⁷ that Arab leaders were unhappy about Israe's presence at the summit.

Mr. Mubarak said there was no problem.

A number of points still need to be hammered out, including where to locate the secretariat for the new partnership and how to finance its projects.

Most of the leaders are expected to stay for Monday's Bastille Day festivities in Paris.

　

 

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

6 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

7 rumours   

n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传

参考例句：

• The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
• Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。