美国古巴将重开大使馆

 　　WASHINGTON, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Cuba have agreed to formally reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies, U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday.

　　"This is a historic step in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people, and begin a new chapter with our neighbors in the Americas," Obama said at the White House.

　　"With this change, we will be able to substantially increase our contacts with the Cuban people," Obama said, adding that U.S. diplomats¹ will have the ability to engage more broadly across the island country.

　　He added that Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana later this summer to raise the American flag over the U.S. embassy.

　　U.S., Cuba to reopen embassies, restore diplomatic ties: Obama

　　In a letter to Cuban leader Raul Castro dated June 30, Obama said the two countries have decided² to re-establish diplomatic relations and permanent diplomatic missions in respective countries on July 20. Castro confirmed the decision in a letter to Obama.

　　Obama and Castro announced in December a thaw³ in relations following more than five decades of enmity. Washington and Havana have held four rounds of talks in past months in a bid to restore diplomatic relations.

　　Obama met with Castro in Panama on the sidelines of a regional summit in April, the most significant interaction between U.S. and Cuban leaders in more than five decades.

　　In late May, the U.S. officially removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, clearing a major obstacle to reestablishing diplomatic ties between the former Cold War rivals.

　　On Wednesday, Obama acknowledged that U.S. and Cuba will " continue to have very serious differences" on issues including freedom of speech and assembly and the ability to access information, vowing⁴ that "we will not hesitate to speak out when we see actions that contradict those values."

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 thaw   

v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和

参考例句：

• The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
• The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。

4 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。