美国古巴重开使馆恢复外交

 　　WASHINGTON, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Cubans on Monday raised Cuba's national flag over the country's newly opened embassy in Washington D.C., the U.S. capital, as diplomatic relations between two nations were restored after more than half a century.

　　Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez attended the embassy reopening ceremony in Washington D.C. Crowds of people cheered as the Cuban national anthem¹ played and Rodriguez hoisted² the Cuban flag for the first time since 1961, when diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed³.

　　Earlier on Monday, the Cuban flag was also hoisted in the lobby of the U.S. State Department next to those of other countries that have established diplomatic relations with the United States. Full diplomatic ties between the two countries were restored at the stroke of midnight, as an agreement to resume normal relations took effect on July 20.

　　During the embassy reopening ceremony, dozens of protestors gathered outside the embassy with signs and banners, calling for, among others, lifting U.S. embargo⁴ against Cuba.

　　Cuba reopens embassy in U.S. as diplomatic ties restored

　　"It's the beginning of a brand new marriage, a whole new relationship," film producer Skipper Bailey told Xinhua. "The United States has to drop the blockade, has to begin cultural- economic ties with Cuba. That's going to be very very important."

　　Elizabeth Lowengard, who is with the group of ANSWER Coalition⁵, said: "The blockade still exists, which means it's very difficult for Cuba to trade ... So it's far from over. Cuba really needs our assistance to help the pressure on the U.S. government and the blockade."

　　The embargo cannot be lifted without the backing of U.S. Congress. Some Republican leaders have expressed opposition⁶ to a thaw⁷ in U.S.-Cuba relations, accusing the Obama administration of appeasing⁸ the Cuban government.

　　"We have a big fight on the Hill," Bailey said, referring to the U.S. Congress. "But we hope the American public steps forward. "

　　At a reception later inside the embassy building, Rodriguez also urged the U.S. to lift the blockade, return "occupied territory in Guantanamo," and show respect for the sovereignty of Cuba.

　　The U.S. Embassy in Havana, the Cuban capital, was also officially reopened Monday. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana on Aug. 14 to attend a flag-raising ceremony at the U.S. Embassy there.

　　"Beginning today, our diplomats⁹ in Havana will have the ability to engage more broadly across the island of Cuba, with the Cuban government, civil society and ordinary Cubans," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.

　　Later on Monday, Rodriguez paid the first visit to the U.S. Department of State by a Cuban foreign minister since 1958 and held talks with Kerry.

　　At a joint¹⁰ press conference after the talks, Kerry welcomed the resumption of normal diplomatic ties between U.S. and Cuba and the re-opening of their embassies after a rupture¹¹ that has last 54 years, calling Monday "a historic day, a day for removing barriers. "

　　"It does reflect the reality that the Cold War ended long ago and that the interests of both countries are better served by engagement than by estrangement," Kerry said, adding that, however, "this milestone¹² does not signify an end to differences that still separate our governments."

　　For his part, Rodriguez emphasized some of the demands made by Havana, saying that "totally lifting the blockade, the return of the illegally occupied territory of Guantanamo as well as the full respect for Cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages" are essential to move towards the normalization¹³ of relations.

　　Noting that President Barack Obama has called on Congress to lift the embargo, Kerry said the U.S. hopes it would come "at the appropriate time" and that a great deal more foundation can be built for the relationship.

　　With respect to the Guantanamo issue, Kerry said there is "no discussion and no intention" on the U.S. part at this moment to " alter the existing lease treaty or other arrangements" concerning the U.S. naval¹⁴ base in Cuba.

　　"But we understand that Cuba has strong feelings about it," Kerry added.

　　On July 1, Obama announced that Washington and Havana had agreed to formally re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies, in what he called "a historic step in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people."

　　Obama and Cuban leader Castro announced in December the decision to restore diplomatic 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.

1 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

2 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

3 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 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。

8 appeasing   

安抚，抚慰( appease的现在分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争）

参考例句：

• Mr. Chamberlain had cherished the hope of appeasing and reforming him and leading him to grace. 张伯伦先生则满心想安抚他，感化他，教他温文知礼。
• A pleasing preacher is too often an appeasing preacher. 一昧讨好的传道人通常是姑息妥协的传道人。

9 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》

10 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

11 rupture   

n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂

参考例句：

• I can rupture a rule for a friend.我可以为朋友破一次例。
• The rupture of a blood vessel usually cause the mark of a bruise.血管的突然破裂往往会造成外伤的痕迹。

12 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

13 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。

14 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。