VOA标准英语2008年-US Urges Colombia Neighbors to Combat Rebels

By Brian Wagner
Medellin, Colombia
03 June 2008

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is calling on Colombia's neighbors to help stop Colombian guerrillas from cross-border operations in jungle regions of South America. VOA's Brian Wagner has this report from the regional meeting of the Organization of American States in Colombia.
　

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte (file photo)

Colombia's government is hoping to use the annual meeting of the 34-nation group to show how its tough security policies have helped curb¹ violence and transform Medellin into a safe and vibrant² city. While the nation has stopped the threat from its largest paramilitary group, leftist rebels continue to operate in remote jungle regions.

Officials say a U.S.-backed campaign to fight drug trafficking has pushed back leftist guerrillas, leading them at times to cross into neighboring countries where they set up camps.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said Venezuela is one area being used by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC. "As far as the government of Venezuela is concerned, I don't think there is any doubt that FARC have sought sanctuary³ on Venezuelan soil, across from the territory of Colombia." he said.

Venezuela's government had denied providing any support to leftist guerrillas, and has criticized Colombia for failing to police the border. Officials in both countries say smuggling⁴ of illegal drugs as well as contraband⁵ food and gasoline across the frontier is a problem.

Negroponte says Colombia's government is making great strides to end terrorist activities of the FARC, but he said it needs more support from its neighbors. "Those who are in a position to do something about that, need to think about their long-term bilateral⁶ relationships, and about whether it is in their interest to let that type of situation to continue," he said.

FARC rebels also have been spotted⁷ inside Ecuador. Sunday, Ecuador's foreign minister told reporters in Medellin that security forces have destroyed more than 100 rebel camps inside Ecuador in recent years. Quito has criticized Colombia for a cross-border military raid in March which killed a FARC commander.

1 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

2 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

3 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

4 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

5 contraband   

n.违禁品，走私品

参考例句：

• Most of the city markets were flooded with contraband goods.大多数的城市市场上都充斥着走私货。
• The customs officers rummaged the ship suspected to have contraband goods.海关人员仔细搜查了一艘有走私嫌疑的海轮。

6 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

7 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。