Translation of El Pais' article on McCain's gaffe
The original article, published in Spanish on 18-Sep-08 in Spain's leading newspaper, EL PAIS, is here:
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/candidato/republicano/compromete/ver/Zapatero/gana/elpepiint/20080918elpepiint_9/Tes
I am not a professional translator, but I am a native Spanish speaker. The translation follows:
The republican candidate to the White House, John McCain, eluded up to four times committing to meet with the Head of the Spanish Government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, if he were to become the next president of the United States.
"I would meet with those leaders that are our friends and that want to work with us in cooperative action," answered McCain, in an interview with the broadcasters of Union Radio group, of which the SER Chain is a part.
When the question was insisted on, he limited himself to evasive answers. "I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends and that I will face off against those that wish to harm the United States," he answered on one occasion. "I would meet any leader that has the same principles and philosophy that we do: human rights, democracy and freedom. And I will stand against those that don't," he added on another occasion.
Asked about it yesterday, Zapatero diminished the importance of McCain's vagueness. "It is logical for him to have the necessary prudence, there is a [pending] electoral process," he said.
"It is true that I have not had a formal encounter with president [George W.] Bush," insisted Zapatero, alluding to the anomaly that can be supposed from the lack of a meeting at the highest level between the two governments, "but this has not impeded the work we have done." He added that he will work together with the new Adiministration in the U.S. "no matter its color," and that he will do it "with a constructive and loyal attitude, as is appropriate for countries that deem themselves partners."
These declarations of McCain contrast with the ones he made to EL PAIS last April, when he said "it is time to leave behind differences with Spain." And he added: "I would like [president Zapatero] to visit the United States." Among diplomatic circles, the republican candidate's attitude was being attributed to a misunderstanding, for the interview was centered on relations with Latin America, and the journalist had to remind him that Spain is a European country when he insisted on putting Mexico forth as an example. In the best of cases, he would be making evident his ignorance with respect to Zapatero.
A meeting between the two presidents is a priority of spanish diplomacy. It is taken for granted that the meeting will not take place until well into 2009, for the winner of the november elections will take posession in January and must put their team together and attend to more urgent problems than paying attention to Spain. But it is desired that Zapatero go to Washington before the first semester of 2010, when the new resident of the White House will come to the US-European Union summit in Spain. Next week Zapatero will go to New York for the UN General Assembly, but the most that is expected is some contact between minister Miguel Angel Moratinos with his homologue, Condoleezza Rice.
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/candidato/republicano/compromete/ver/Zapatero/gana/elpepiint/20080918elpepiint_9/Tes
I am not a professional translator, but I am a native Spanish speaker. The translation follows:
The republican candidate to the White House, John McCain, eluded up to four times committing to meet with the Head of the Spanish Government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, if he were to become the next president of the United States.
"I would meet with those leaders that are our friends and that want to work with us in cooperative action," answered McCain, in an interview with the broadcasters of Union Radio group, of which the SER Chain is a part.
When the question was insisted on, he limited himself to evasive answers. "I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends and that I will face off against those that wish to harm the United States," he answered on one occasion. "I would meet any leader that has the same principles and philosophy that we do: human rights, democracy and freedom. And I will stand against those that don't," he added on another occasion.
Asked about it yesterday, Zapatero diminished the importance of McCain's vagueness. "It is logical for him to have the necessary prudence, there is a [pending] electoral process," he said.
"It is true that I have not had a formal encounter with president [George W.] Bush," insisted Zapatero, alluding to the anomaly that can be supposed from the lack of a meeting at the highest level between the two governments, "but this has not impeded the work we have done." He added that he will work together with the new Adiministration in the U.S. "no matter its color," and that he will do it "with a constructive and loyal attitude, as is appropriate for countries that deem themselves partners."
These declarations of McCain contrast with the ones he made to EL PAIS last April, when he said "it is time to leave behind differences with Spain." And he added: "I would like [president Zapatero] to visit the United States." Among diplomatic circles, the republican candidate's attitude was being attributed to a misunderstanding, for the interview was centered on relations with Latin America, and the journalist had to remind him that Spain is a European country when he insisted on putting Mexico forth as an example. In the best of cases, he would be making evident his ignorance with respect to Zapatero.
A meeting between the two presidents is a priority of spanish diplomacy. It is taken for granted that the meeting will not take place until well into 2009, for the winner of the november elections will take posession in January and must put their team together and attend to more urgent problems than paying attention to Spain. But it is desired that Zapatero go to Washington before the first semester of 2010, when the new resident of the White House will come to the US-European Union summit in Spain. Next week Zapatero will go to New York for the UN General Assembly, but the most that is expected is some contact between minister Miguel Angel Moratinos with his homologue, Condoleezza Rice.
