2006年VOA标准英语-Rice Visiting Indonesia to Discuss Terrori

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
13 March 2006

The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice begins a two-day visit to Indonesia Tuesday that is expected to focus on terrorism, Hamas and the Middle East, and strengthening political ties.

Secretary Condoleezza Rice is making her first visit to Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population.

During her two-day stay Rice will meet with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and key government officials.

Presidential Spokesman Dino Djalal says Jakarta hopes the talks will strengthen ties.

"The one thing that we hope to do is to boost the bilateral¹ relationship between Indonesia and the United States. And also to engage in discussions about regional and international issues," said Dino. "The visit has been billed as a new relationship subsequent to the lifting of the military restrictions² by the U.S. government recently."

The U.S. cut ties with the Indonesian military in 1999 after military-backed militias³ rampaged across East Timor, killing⁴ more than 1,000 people, as the country voted for independence from Indonesia.

But Washington has eased military restrictions against Indonesia over the past year in an effort to help the country fight terrorism.

Indonesia has suffered a series of bomb attacks since 2002 that have killed more than 200 people and been blamed on the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah. Jakarta has captured and prosecuted⁵ more than 200 people for terrorist activities.

Before leaving the United States, Rice said she would also discuss the situation in the Middle East with Indonesia. Washington wants Indonesia to use its influence with the new Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Hamas leaders have refused to renounce⁶ violence or recognize Israel's right to exist, as demanded by the European Union, the United States, Russia, and the United Nations.

Indonesia has no ties with Israel and staunchly supports the Palestinian cause, but government spokesman Dino says Jakarta supports initiatives for peace in the Middle East.

"Indonesia and U.S. share the common goal of achieving peace in the Middle East," said Dino. "We support the road map drawn⁷ by the quartet to achieve permanent peace in the Middle East. And we will be ready to contribute in any way we can to promote that peace."

Rice's talks in Indonesia are also expected to cover the economic rise of China and its impact on the region, as well as efforts to tackle bird flu.

1 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。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 prosecuted   

a.被起诉的

参考例句：

• The editors are being prosecuted for obscenity. 编辑因刊载污秽文字而被起诉。
• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。

6 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

7 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。