Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he intends to send an ambassador back to Washington after a seven-month absence. Mr. Chavez made the announcement at the fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, where hemispheric leaders discussed economic and environmental challenges, as well as issues of democratic governance.
委内瑞拉总统查韦斯说，他打算派一位大使重返华盛顿。这一职位已经闲置了7个月。查韦斯在特利尼达和多巴哥举行的第5届美洲峰会上作出了这一宣布。西半球各国领导人在峰会上讨论了经济和环保方面的挑战，以及民主管理方面的问题。
After two days of greetings and handshakes between President Barack Obama and his Venezuelan counterpart, President Chavez said he has decided to name a new ambassador to the United States.
在奥巴马总统和委内瑞拉领导人相互问候致意和握手两天之后，查韦斯总统说，他已经决定提名一位新的驻美国大使。
Last September, Venezuela expelled the U.S. ambassador to Caracas in solidarity with Bolivia, which had done the same, accusing the United States of fomenting political unrest in the South American nation. Washington responded in kind.
去年9月，委内瑞拉驱逐了美国驻加拉加斯大使，与采取同样作法的玻利维亚团结一致，指责美国在这个南美洲国家煽动政治动乱。华盛顿也驱逐了对方的大使作为回应。
Earlier in the day, Mr. Chavez gave President Obama a book and responded favorably to the U.S. leader's stated intention to forge a new beginning with Cuba, a Venezuelan ally.
星期六早些时候，查韦斯赠给奥巴马总统一本书，并且对这位美国领导人表述的要跟委内瑞拉的盟国古巴营造一个新开端的意向作出了善意回应。
The Associated Press quotes a State Department official as saying the United States and Venezuela will work on returning ambassadors to both Washington and Caracas.
美联社援引美国国务院一名官员的话说，美国和委内瑞拉将就派大使重返华盛顿和加拉加斯进行安排。
President Chavez' diplomatic announcement came near the end of day-long hemispheric consultations at the fifth Summit of the Americas.
查韦斯总统是在第5届美洲峰会关于西半球事务一整天的磋商接近尾声的时候作出这项外交宣布的。
Although not present at the gathering, Cuba overshadowed much of the proceedings. U.S. officials acknowledge disagreement at the summit over a final declaration, to be issued Sunday. A draft of the document negotiated months ago reportedly says nothing about the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba, a sore point for much of the hemisphere.
古巴虽然没有出席这次会议，但是却影响着会议的很大一部分进程。美国官员承认本届峰会在将于星期日发表的闭幕宣言上存在分歧。几个月前商谈的宣言草稿据报道对美国经济制裁古巴一事只字未提，美国对古巴的经济制裁让一些西半球国家感到不快。
After discussing ways to combat the global economic downturn and financial crisis, leaders turned their attention to energy and environmental concerns. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu was on hand for discussions, and said island nations in the Caribbean and elsewhere would be hardest-hit by the effects of global warming.
在讨论应对全球经济衰退和金融危机的方法之后，各国领导人把他们的注意力转到能源和环保方面的议题上。美国能源部长朱棣文到场参加了讨论。他说，加勒比海和其他地方的岛国受到全球变暖效应的影响将是最严重的。
"Caribbean countries face rising oceans and an increase in the severity of hurricanes," Chu said. "If Greenland melts, we are looking at a 7-meter sea level rise around the world. Some island states will disappear."
他说：“加勒比海国家面临上涨的海洋和强度增大的飓风。如果格陵兰群岛冰雪融化，我们就会眼看着世界各地的海面升高7米。一些岛国就会消失。”
President Obama proposed creating a hemispheric partnership to tackle energy and climate issues. Administration officials say the initiative would promote energy conservation and the development of alternative fuels to cut back on greenhouse gases blamed for warming the earth's temperature.
奥巴马总统提议建立一个半球合作伙伴机制来处理能源和气候问题。美国政府官员们说，这项倡议将促进节约能源，研发替代燃料，以削减造成地球变暖的温室气体。
President Obama said he came to the summit with the goal of listening, not dictating, to his peers in the Americas, and with a goal of renewing and rejuvenating America's ties with its neighbors.
奥巴马总统说， 他是带着倾听美洲国家领导人意见的目的来出席这次峰会的，而不是要对他们发号施令，他是带着检讨和更新美国跟邻国关系的目的来开会的。
The message was well received by El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes.
这个信息受到萨尔瓦多总统毛里西奥.富内斯的赞赏。
Mr. Funes says he perceives good intentions from Mr. Obama and that the U.S. leader should be taken at his word that he comes to listen, not to impose his will on the region. Mr. Funes says now is the time to seize the opportunity, to forge better relations and confront challenges together.
富内斯说，他领会到奥巴马发出的善意。他说，这位美国领导人说他是前来倾听而不是把他的意愿强加给这个地区，人们应该把这个话当真。富内斯说，现在是抓住机遇、改善关系、共同应对挑战的时候了。
That view is not shared by Bolivian President Evo Morales, however. Mr. Morales said President Obama speaks of changing in the way the United States deals with other nations, but such change is not perceived in his country.
不过，这个观点并没有得到玻利维亚总统莫拉雷斯的赞同。莫拉雷斯说，奥巴马总是谈论改变美国同其他国家打交道的方式，但是玻利维亚并没有察觉这种改变。
President Obama is expected to hold a news conference later Sunday at the conclusion of the summit.
奥巴马总统预计星期天晚些时候在本次峰会结束时举行一次记者会。 |