VOA常速英语2020--加强美国与哥伦比亚的关系（在线收听）

Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government.

以下是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。

The U.S.-Colombia relationship is “vital” to the “Western Hemisphere and its security and the freedom of all peoples in the region,” said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a recent visit to Colombia. Colombia has played a critical role in caring for refugees from Venezuela during the difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Your support of Interim President Juan Guaido and a democratic transition for a sovereign Venezuela free of malign influence from Cuba, from Russia, from Iran, is incredibly valued,” stated Secretary Pompeo. The Colombian people desire a lasting and just peace in their nation. “The violence on the part of FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) dissidents, the ELN (National Liberation Army), or any other terrorist or criminal group is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated, nor can the actions of regimes like Maduro’s, which provide safe haven, aid and indeed comfort to those terrorists,” said Secretary Pompeo.

美国与哥伦比亚之间的关系对“西半球及其安全以及当地所有人民的自由”来说“至关重要”，美国国务卿蓬佩奥最近访问哥伦比亚时表示。在新冠肺炎疫情肆虐的艰难时期，哥伦比亚在救助委内瑞拉难民方面发挥了关键的作用。“你们对临时总统胡安·瓜伊多所提供的支持，对实现委内瑞拉主权不受古巴、俄罗斯和伊朗恶意影响的民主过渡所提供的支持都极为宝贵。”国务卿蓬佩奥表示。哥伦比亚人民渴望国家实现持久与公正的和平。“哥伦比亚革命武装力量的异见者、哥伦比亚民族解放军或其他恐怖分子或犯罪团体的暴力行为都是不可接受、不能容忍的，马杜罗等政权向这些恐怖分子提供安全庇护、援助和支持的行为也同样是不可接受和不能容忍的。”国务卿蓬佩奥表示。

Colombia has demonstrated leadership on confronting the dangers posed by Hezbollah by designating it as a foreign terrorist organization. Such designations give governments the power to arrest members, freeze their assets, restrict their freedom of movement, and to make it harder to plot and carry out terrorist attacks. “Putting maximum pressure on Iran and its Hezbollah proxies is essential to peace and security for free peoples everywhere,” emphasized Secretary Pompeo. The United States and Colombia are also united in their fight against illegal narcotics, said Secretary Pompeo: “Colombian law enforcement, even in these difficult times, has stepped up cocaine interdiction and eradication. You manually cleared 57 percent more coca fields in 2019 than in the year prior, 2018.The U.S. is here to help by sharing resources, expertise, and we applaud the work that you have done.” The United States is Colombia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 34 percent of Colombia’s total trade. The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement aims to improve the investment environment, eliminate tariffs and other barriers to U.S. exports, expand trade, and promote economic growth for both countries.Secretary Pompeo announced that the U.S. will expand its private sector investment in rural Colombia, including through the U.S. Development Finance Corporation. He said, “We want to make sure there is a solution, an alternative to coca crops.” Secretary Pompeo confirmed that “the U.S. and Colombia are powerful forces for good in the Americas.”

哥伦比亚将真主党指定为海外恐怖组织，在对抗真主党构成的危险方面表现出了引领作用。这种指定让政府有权逮捕真主党成员、冻结他们的资产、限制他们的行动自由，并使他们策划和进行恐怖袭击更加困难。国务卿蓬佩奥强调说，“对伊朗及其真主党代理人的极限施压，对世界各地自由人民的和平与安全至关重要。”国务卿蓬佩奥表示，美国与哥伦比亚还联手打击非法毒品走私。“即使是在艰难时期，哥伦比亚执法部门依然加强拦截可卡因走私并铲除可卡因生产。你们2019年人工铲除的古柯田比2018年扩大了57%。美国将在这里通过分享资源和专业知识来提供帮助。我们赞扬你们的工作。”美国是哥伦比亚最大的贸易伙伴，两国贸易占哥伦比亚贸易总额的34%。“美国-哥伦比亚贸易促进协议”旨在改善投资环境，消除美国出口的关税和其它壁垒，扩大贸易，推动两国的经济增长。国务卿蓬佩奥宣布，美国将扩大私人企业对哥伦比亚农村地区的投资，包括通过美国国际开发金融公司进行投资。蓬佩奥表示，“我们希望确保能够找到古柯作物的替代解决方法。”国务卿蓬佩奥证实，“美国与哥伦比亚是美洲地区两股强大的优质力量。”

That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government.

这是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。