- a decade: 10 year period
- a peace treaty: an agreement of peace between countries
- a peninsula: a big headland jutting out into the sea
- a summit: meeting between leaders of 2 or more countries
- an honor: a special treat for someone
- an onlooker: a spectator, a person who is watching
- at war: fighting
- bitter rivals: competitors, opponents
- divided: split, separated, not united
- enthusiastically: with enthusiasm, keenly
- make further steps: take further action, make progress
- officially: technically, legally-speaking
- reserved: quiet, understated, perhaps shy
- tension: a sense of danger or feeling of stress
- unemotional: not showing emotion
- with the aim of: in order to, aiming to