VOA常速英语2014--聚焦华盛顿:关注古巴和朝鲜（在线收听）

Washington Week: Focus on Cuba, North Korea 聚焦华盛顿:关注古巴和朝鲜

President Barack Obama and U.S. lawmakers have left Washington for the remainder of the year, but the city remains focused on historic and unprecedented developments on the world stage.  The coming week is expected to bring continued scrutiny of a diplomatic opening between the United States and Cuba, as well as North Korea’s alleged role in hacking media giant Sony.

While some Cuban exiles protest in Miami, and Cubans on the island hope for an economic boost, President Raul Castro says renewed ties between Washington and Havana do not signal an end to communism in Cuba.

尽管一些古巴流亡者在迈阿密举行抗议及古巴人民希望经济得以发展,但总统劳尔·卡斯特罗表示华盛顿和哈瓦那的新关系并不会结束古巴的共产主义。

“In the same way that we have never demanded the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours,” said he.

“正如我们从未要求美国改变其政治体制一样,我们当然也会要求尊重我们自己的政体。”

Such comments confirm the worst fears of President Obama’s critics, like Republican Senator Marco Rubio.

这样的评论证实了像是共和党参议员马可·卢比奥等奥巴马总统批评人士最坏的担心。

“Engagement by itself does not guarantee or even lead to political freedoms.  The Cuban government controls every aspect of their economy.  They intend to follow the model of Vietnam and China where they can grow their economy, but they do not grow political freedoms.  In fact, they repress them,” said Rubio, speaking on ABC’s This Week program.

“约定本身并不能保证,甚至走向政治自由。古巴政府掌控经济的方方面面。他们打算仿效越南和中方发展自己的经济,但是古巴并无政治自由可言。事实上,他们是在制约自己。”

Late last week, Obama departed for a holiday vacation in Hawaii.  Before leaving, he defended the decision to rebuild relations with Cuba.

上周晚些时候奥巴马开始享受夏威夷的假期。在出发之前,他重申了与古巴关系破冰的决定。

“I do not anticipate overnight changes [in Cuba], but what I know deep in my bones is that if you have done the same thing for 50 years and nothing has changed, you should try something different if you want a different outcome,” said Obama.

“我不会期望一夜之间发生改变,但是我深知如果你同样的事情做了50年后什么都没有改变, 如果你想要截然不同的结果，你就应该尝试截然不同的东西。”

Meanwhile, Sony is defending its decision not to release a movie that ridicules North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.  Appearing on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS program, Sony Pictures chief Michael Lynton remained steadfast.

同时,索尼正在捍卫其不公布恶搞朝鲜领导人金正恩电影的决定。索尼影业主席迈克尔·林顿做客CNN主持人法里德·扎卡利亚的GPS节目时说道。

“We have not caved.  We have not given in.  We have always had every desire to have the American public see this movie,” said Lynton.

“我们没有屈服。我们没有让步。我们一直渴望每一位美国公民都能看到这部电影。”

Washington has become increasingly alarmed over America’s vulnerability to cyber-theft and cyber-attacks - concerns now heightened after federal officials concluded that North Korea was behind a massive digital breach at Sony.

在联邦官员断定朝鲜是索尼大量数码泄露的幕后黑手后，华盛顿方面对美国网络盗窃及网络攻击弱势的日益警觉现在愈加严重。

President Obama pledged a response.

“Our first order of business is making sure that we do everything to harden sites and prevent those kinds of attacks from taking place.  We will respond [to North Korea] in a place and time and manner that we choose.”

“我们的第一要务是确保我们竭尽所能加强网站安全并防止这样的袭击再次发生。我们会通过自己所选择的地点、时间和方式回应。”

North Korea has denied any involvement in the Sony hack.  The episode, along with the opening to Cuba, will be subjects of intense congressional scrutiny when lawmakers return to Washington in January.

朝鲜已经否认参与黑客袭击索尼事件。这一事件,以及同古巴关系的破冰,将是国会议员们在1月份回到华盛顿时讨论的热点问题。