VOA常速英语2007年-Colombia Authorizes Venezuela to Cross Border t

By Brian Wagner
Miami
26 December 2007

Colombia's government has accepted a Venezuelan operation to receive three hostages to be freed by Colombian rebels. VOA's Brian Wagner reports from Miami Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has planes and helicopters ready to fly into Colombia to pick up the hostages.

Colombia's government gave its approval to the Venezuelan plan to recover three hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC. The group is on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations.

Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo announced the decision and thanked President Chavez for his government's efforts.

He said the Colombian government authorized¹ the humanitarian² operation and delegated Peace Commissioner³ Luis Carlos Restrepo to join the mission.

Earlier, President Chavez said he had airplanes and helicopters ready to depart from Venezuelan airports to carry out the operation at a moment's notice. Mr. Chavez said the aircraft will fly across the border, where they will receive instructions from rebel leaders about where to pick up the three hostages.

He said the helicopters have been marked with the symbol of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and will be carrying extra fuel for the mission.

Rebel leaders say the three hostages include a former congresswoman, an aide to former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and the woman's son, who was born in captivity⁴.

President Chavez said he hopes to continue working to negotiate the release of all rebel hostages, which include three American contractors⁵ seized nearly five years ago.

In August, Colombia's government asked Mr. Chavez to negotiate with FARC leaders for a deal to exchange hostages for jailed rebels. President Alvaro Uribe ended Mr. Chavez's participation⁶ last month, saying he had improper⁷ contact with Colombia's army chief.

1 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

4 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

5 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。