美国邀请古巴参加美洲峰会

美国邀请古巴参加美洲峰会

WHITE HOUSE— The Summit of the Americas normally receives little media attention in the United States. But this year is different because Cuba, unlike previous years, is invited to the gathering¹ in Panama, which will take place April 10-11. U.S. officials say President Obama will interact with Cuban President Raúl Castro for the first time since announcing steps to normalize U.S.-Cuba relations.

The last Summit of the Americas, in Cartagena, Colombia in 2012, is remembered for a scandal involving U.S. Secret Service agents and prostitutes.

上届美洲峰会于2012年在哥伦比亚卡塔赫纳举行，之所以能被人记住，是因为与美国情报局和卖淫有关的丑闻。

This year’s main attraction will be Cuba. For the first time, a delegation² from Havana will be at the table - something President Obama welcomes after his December announcement to end more than a half-century of isolation³.

今年的主要亮点是古巴，来自哈瓦那的代表将首次参加会谈，奥巴马总统对此表示欢迎，去年12月他宣布结束与古巴50多年的隔离关系。

“Our shift in policy toward Cuba comes at a moment of renewed leadership in the Americas. This April, we are prepared to have Cuba join the other nations of the hemisphere at the Summit of the Americas,” said Obama.

“就在美洲重振领导地位之时，我们改变了对古巴政策，今年4月份，我们准备让古巴和西半球其他国家一道参加美洲峰会。”

It is by welcoming Cuba the U.S. hopes to renew its leadership role in Latin America - a role that has been waning⁴ due to what analysts⁵ say is U.S. economic weakness and the region’s increasing engagement with China and others.

美国希望通过欢迎古巴加入来重振其在拉美的领导地位，分析家称，由于美国经济的衰弱，以及该地区与中国等国家日益密切的交往，美国在该地区的领导地位正在被削弱。

U.S. isolation of communist Cuba has been an issue for Latin American governments for years. At the Cartagena summit, hemispheric leaders protested Washington’s exclusion⁶ of Havana from the gatherings⁷.

多年来，美国对共产主义古巴的隔离一直是拉美国家政府面临的一个问题，在卡塔赫纳峰会上，西半球的领导人们抗议华盛顿将哈瓦那排除在峰会之外。

Michael Shifter heads the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington. He said the invitation of Cuba is a significant gesture.

迈克尔·谢夫特是华盛顿美洲国家对话组织负责人，他说邀请古巴参加是个颇具深意的举动。

“It has enormous symbolism over the last 50 years as the country that has been isolated⁸ by the United States, squeezed by the United States, not treated as a sovereign nation. So for Latin Americans, that’s very, very important,” said Shifter.

“这一举动有着重大的象征意义，因为过去50年来这个国家已经被美国所隔离，被美国排挤，没有得到主权国家的待遇。所以对拉美国家来说，这是非常非常重要的。”

But opponents of the U.S. rapprochement call Cuba’s participation⁹ at the summit a setback¹⁰ for democratic ideals in the region - even in a grouping that includes imperfect democracies like Venezuela.

但美国和解的反对者称古巴参加峰会是该地区民主理念的倒退，即使这个峰会上也有一些民主制度不完美的国家参加，比如委内瑞拉。

Frank Calzón of the Center for a Free Cuba in Washington said Cuba has not enacted¹¹ democratic reforms and - unlike Venezuela - does not have an elected government.

华盛顿自由古巴中心的弗兰克说，古巴没有进行民主改革，而且与委内瑞拉不同的是，这个国家也没有选举出来的政府。

“There is a difference between an imperfect democracy that violates human rights and a totalitarian regime that has laws that in fact deny, under their own law, human rights,” said Calzón.

“一个侵犯人权的不完美民主制度和一个根据其自身法律否认人权的独裁政权是不能相提并论的。”

Cuba’s participation at the summit in Panama will be largely symbolic¹². Washington still lists Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Wayne Smith, a retired¹³ diplomat¹⁴ who once worked at what was the U.S. Embassy in Cuba and later at the U.S. Interests section, said that needs to change before Cuba can be a full participant.

古巴参加巴拿马峰会在很大程度上是象征性的，华盛顿仍把古巴列为恐怖主义的国家赞助者。曾经就职于美国驻古巴使馆、后来就职于美国利益代表处的退休外交官维恩·史密斯说，在古巴成为峰会的全面参与者之前，这一现状需要得到改变。

“They can come to the summit but if we reach agreements at the summit that all the other members would be a party to, I’m not sure where that would leave Cuba and the U.S. There might be agreements that might be reached that we couldn’t be parties to with the Cubans,” said Smith.

“古巴人来到峰会上，但如果我们在峰会上达成协议，其他成员国都签署了协议，我不确定这将置古巴和美国于何地。可能会达成一些我们无法与古巴为伍的协议。”

President Obama wants Cuba off the terrorist list, but has yet to announce its removal.

奥巴马总统希望将古巴从恐怖分子名单中删掉，但尚未宣布何时实施。

 

Experts say having Cuba at the table in Panama is a big - if only symbolic - step in the long road to full normalization¹⁵ of ties.

专家称古巴参加巴拿马峰会一事，即使不具有象征意义，也是恢复关系全面正常化道路上的一大进步。

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

3 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

4 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 exclusion   

n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行

参考例句：

• Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
• He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。

7 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

8 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

9 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

10 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。

11 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

12 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

13 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。

14 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

15 normalization   

n.（normalisation）正常化，标准化

参考例句：

• The visit signalled the normalization of relations between the two countries.这次访问显示两国关系已经正常化。
• He was pleased to the normalization of relationship between the police and the people.他很高兴警方和人民之间关系的正常化。