美国国旗在古巴哈瓦那大使馆飘扬

AS IT IS 2015-08-15 U.S. Flag Flies Over Embassy in Havana, Cuba 美国国旗在古巴哈瓦那大使馆飘扬

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry took part in a ceremony Friday to raise the U.S. flag at the country’s reopened embassy in Havana, Cuba. Mr. Kerry is the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Cuba in 70 years. He called the ceremony a memorable¹ occasion. He also said it was “a day for pushing aside old barriers and exploring new possibilities.”

The ceremony marks growing relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Both the U.S. and Cuban embassies reopened on July 20. The two countries had not had diplomatic relations for 54 years.

Some members of the U.S. Congress traveled to Cuba alongside Mr. Kerry. They include three retired² U.S. Marines – Larry Morris, Mike East, and Jim Tracey. In 1961, the three men lowered the flag on the U.S. embassy in Havana for the last time.

Mr. Kerry will meet Friday with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez. But the secretary has no planned meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro.

A top U.S. official noted³ that Cuban dissidents would not be part of the ceremony at the U.S. Embassy. Human rights activists⁵ have criticized the decision. Frank Calzon is a Cuban-American activist⁴ for human rights. He called the move to normalize relations with Cuba a setback⁶ for Cuban dissidents.

Mr. Kerry said this week that human rights issues are, in his words, “at the top of our agenda in terms of the first things that will be focused on in our direct engagement with the Cuban government.”

Members of Cuban civil society, including political, human rights and media activists, were invited to a second, larger ceremony later in the day. It will be held at the home of the chief of the U.S. mission in Cuba, Jeffrey DeLaurentis.

President Barack Obama has not yet appointed an ambassador to Cuba.

Words in This Story

occasion – n. a special or notable time or event

normalize – v. to bring something back to a usual state or condition

agenda – n. a list of things to be considered or done

engagement – n. the act or state of being involved with something

1 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 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。

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。