2007年VOA标准英语-French President Meets With Libya's Gadhafi

By Anita Elash
Paris
25 July 2007

French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Libya Wednesday to meet with Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi in Tripoli.  Mr. Sarkozy agreed to the visit as part of a deal made Tuesday to free six medical workers convicted of infecting hundreds of children in a Libyan hospital with AIDS. For VOA, Anita Elash reports from Paris.

The Bulgarian nurses and medic pose in front of the French presidential plane after their arrival at the Sofia airport, 24 July 2007

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is meeting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in Tripoli to improve relations following the release of six medical workers on Tuesday.

The six were flown from Tripoli to Sofia early on Tuesday at the end of a trip to Libya by Mr. Sarkozy's wife Cecilia and the EU's External Affairs Commissioner¹ Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Reports say that Mr. Gadhafi invited Mr. Sarkozy to Libya several times during negotiations² to free the medical workers. However, the French president said he would only come once they were released.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU could now begin to normalize trade and political ties with Libya.

Mr. Sarkozy describes the trip as a political visit, made possible by the agreement.

Nicholas Sarkozy talks to reporters in Paris, 24 July 2007

He told reporters that, now that the medial workers are free, he wants to look to the future. Mr. Sarkozy says he hopes to sign several accords with the Libyan leader, but did not say in which areas.

News reports say that Mr. Sarkozy could sign agreements on security, immigration, energy and scientific research. And, he wants more support in to stem the flow of illegal immigrants crossing into southern Europe from North Africa.

France hopes to convince Libya to become part of a Mediterranean³ Union that would unite all countries that border the Mediterranean. Libya also holds huge economic potential, especially because of its oil reserves. Reports from Brussels say that, as part of the EU's incentive⁴ package, France offered to build a highway from Libya and Tunisia and pledged to sell arms to Tripoli.

1 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。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

4 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。