Cómo se dice en inglés "con vaivenes de tensión y acercamiento en la relación bilateral"

Question

This would be the last part of this sentence:

Once the main conflict with CCCC was solved, the government would concentrate all its efforts on the relationship with BBBB, the region’s most important neighbour, with which rivalry dated back to the first decades of the 19th century and competition for leadership in South America was manifested along the 20th century with fluctuations between moments of tension and phases of more cooperation in the bilateral relation.

I translated it, but I am not very happy with my attempt.

Thanks

ANd the Spanish version? - chileno, Jun 10, 2013

Yes, I agre with Chileno, without seeing the original, I can't even think why I'm trying.. - annierats, Jun 10, 2013

It probably works as one sentence in Spanish but in English it would never be that long. :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 10, 2013

Here the sentence in Spanish: Resuelto el principal conflicto con CCCC, el gobierno concentraría sus esfuerzos en la relación con BBBBB, el vecino más importante de la región, con el que la rivalidad se remontaba hasta las primeras décadas del siglo XIX - flor7000, Jun 10, 2013

y la competencia por el liderazgo en Sudamérica se manifestó a lo largo del siglo XX con vaivenes de tensión y acercamiento en la relación bilateral. - flor7000, Jun 10, 2013

Answer 1

Once the main conflict with CCCC was solved, the government would concentrate all its efforts on the relationship with BBBB, the region’s most important neighbour, with which rivalry dated back to the first decades of the 19th century and competition for leadership in South America was manifested along the 20th century with fluctuations between moments of tension and phases of more cooperation in the bilateral relation.

Once/if themain conflict with XXX had been resolved, the governement would concentrate its efforts on improving relations with AAA, the most important of it's neighbours, the rivalry with whom dated back to the early years of 19.. (whatever). Punto.

The competition for leadership in Latin America manifested itself during the 20th century, in the shape of fluctuations between moments of tension and moments of better understanding.

I hpe this helps, without seeing the original it's a hopeless task, really. I should drop ' bilateral relation' unless you're a politician, it's one of these phrases that mean nothing to anyone.

Answer 2

Thank you to both of you!!!

:) - chileno, Jun 11, 2013

Answer 3

Yes, why not?

Answer 4

Could "swinging" be used in this context?