万花筒 2009-04-15&04-16 美国与古巴关系解冻？

A dawning of a new era of US-Cuban relations. The White House announces it will ease the way for US telecommunications firms to do business with Cuba and allow family travel and money transfers from the United States to Cuba.

 

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

 

"The President has directed the Secretary of State, Treasury¹ and Commerce to carry out the actions necessary to lift all restrictions² on the ability of individuals to visit family members in Cuba and to send them remittances³."

 

The decision does not eliminate Washington’s trade embargo⁴ against Cuba set up 47 years ago, but it does hold out the prospect⁵ for improving ties between the two foes⁶. Daniel Restrepo is a special assistant to the President.

 

"This is a step to extend a hand to the Cuban people."

 

Supporters of easing US sanctions against Cuba welcome the move which will affect an estimated one and a half million Americans who have family members in Cuba. Detractors say it will just help finance a communist government. Cuba is among the US's foes. US president Barack Obama has said he would be willing to engage diplomatically.

 

The announcement comes ahead of Obama's attendance at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad later this week.

 

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
 

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 remittances   

n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额

参考例句：

• He sends regular remittances to his parents. 他定期汇款给他父母。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Remittances sometimes account for as much as 20% of GDP. 在这些国家中，此类汇款有时会占到GDP的20%之多。 来自互联网

4 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

5 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

6 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。