2006年VOA标准英语-US to Normalize Ties With Libya

By Meredith Buel
Washington
15 May 2006
 
The United States has decided¹ to restore normal diplomatic relations with Libya for the first time in a quarter of a century, and will remove it from a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement the actions were being taken because of Libya's commitment to renounce² terrorism and cooperate in the global war on terror.

The announcement culminates³ a process that began a few years ago, when Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi agreed to dismantle⁴ his nuclear weapons program. President Bush lifted most sanctions against Libya in 2004.

The State Department's coordinator⁵ for Counterterrorism, Henry Crumpton, says Libya is making valuable contributions to the security of the United States.

"This is not only about Libya not supporting terrorist groups. It is about their cooperation with us and with other partners in this global fight. The cooperation in intelligence is strong and getting stronger," he said. "They have made direct and important contributions to our national security. They have worked with us to track operatives and networks of terrorist groups throughout the region, some leading into Iraq."

 

Moammar Gadhafi (file photo)   
  
The United States imposed sanctions on Libya in 1986, blaming Tripoli for the bombing of a Berlin disco that killed two U.S. soldiers and a Turkish woman.

Two Libyan intelligence agents were also indicted⁶ and found guilty of involvement in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 that was blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing⁷ 270 people.

Libya turned over those agents for trial, and agreed to pay compensation to families of victims.

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Welch, says he hopes the change in U.S. relations with Libya will send a message to other nations.

"Today's announcement demonstrates that, when countries make a decision to adhere to international norms of behavior, they will reap concrete benefits," noted⁸ Welch. "Libya serves as an important model, as we push for changes in policy by other countries, such as Iran and North Korea."

Welch says the United States remains⁹ concerned about human rights issues in Libya, specifically the case of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor sentenced to death on charges of infecting children with the virus that causes AIDS. Libya's Supreme¹⁰ Court later overturned the death sentence and ordered a retrial.

"The steps we announce today don't eliminate our concerns over other aspects of Libya's behavior," he added. "Instead, these steps will enable us to engage with the Libyans more effectively on all issues. In particular, we continue to call upon Libya to improve its human rights record, and to address in good faith cases pending¹¹ in U.S. courts with regard to its terrorist activities in the 1980s."

Welch says the United States will soon upgrade its liaison¹² office in Tripoli to a full embassy.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

3 culminates   

v.达到极点( culminate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Each civilization is born, it culminates, and it decay. 各种文明都要历经诞生，鼎盛和衰落。 来自《用法词典》
• The tower culminates in a 40-foot spire. 这塔的顶端是一个40英尺高的塔尖。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

5 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

6 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

11 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

12 liaison   

n.联系，（未婚男女间的）暖昧关系，私通

参考例句：

• She acts as a liaison between patients and staff.她在病人与医护人员间充当沟通的桥梁。
• She is responsible for liaison with researchers at other universities.她负责与其他大学的研究人员联系。