voa标准英语2008年-Latin American Leaders Congratulate Obama Win

Latin American leaders have congratulated U.S. president-elect Barack Obama for his victory on Tuesday. VOA's Brian Wagner reports that many leaders hope the new president will bring a renewed focus on Latin America.
　

A Cuban dissident delivers letters congratulating U.S. President-elect Barack Obama after a press conference with journalists in Havana, 05 Nov 2008

After his election in 2000, President Bush promised a new era of engagement with Latin America. Many regional leaders, however, were disappointed that commitment did not come to pass, as Washington turned its attention to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Economic concerns are expected to dominate the agenda of president-elect Obama when he takes office in January. But Latin America leaders are hopeful the new president will work with them to address trade, security and social concerns in the future.

Felipe Calderon, the president of Mexico, one of America's leading trade partners, congratulated Mr. Obama and invited him to the country.

In Chile, President Michelle Bachelet said Mr. Obama will take office at a time when world leaders are searching for new solutions.

Mrs. Bachelet said Chile and the United States share many of the same concerns, such as the need for social justice, greater equality and the hope for change in the future.

In Colombia, President Alvaro Uribe said he hoped to work closely with the Democratic president to advance shared goals. The Colombian government has been working with President Bush and Republican leaders to win approval of a free trade agreement, which many Democrats¹ have opposed. Mr. Obama has said he wants to address concerns in the deal, such as greater protection for union leaders, before the trade deal becomes law.

For leftist leaders, the election of Mr. Obama marks a break with the Republican administration of President Bush.

Relations have soured recently between Washington and Bolivia, where President Evo Morales has accused Mr. Bush of seeking to interfere² with his government. The Bolivian leader said the new U.S. president could help bridge differences between the nations.

Morales said he hopes Mr. Obama will lift the economic embargo³ against Cuba, remove U.S. troops from some countries, and he said he is confident that relations between Washington and La Paz will improve.

During the campaign, Mr. Obama promised to review harsh policies against Cuba, especially a set of Bush administration limits on remittances⁴ and family travel to the island. Many Cubans on the island and those living in the United States have said they support Mr. Obama's softer approach.

In Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also called for an end to the U.S. embargo toward Cuba. He added that the election of an African-American as U.S. president should give pride and hope to a country like Brazil, where many residents claim African ancestry⁵.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez issued a statement saying the U.S. election showed that the sweeping⁶ changes occurring in South America may now come to the United States. He said the time has come to form new ties between the two countries, which are based on true cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of nations.

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

3 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。

4 remittances   

n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额

参考例句：

• He sends regular remittances to his parents. 他定期汇款给他父母。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Remittances sometimes account for as much as 20% of GDP. 在这些国家中，此类汇款有时会占到GDP的20%之多。 来自互联网

5 ancestry   

n.祖先，家世

参考例句：

• Their ancestry settled the land in 1856.他们的祖辈1856年在这块土地上定居下来。
• He is an American of French ancestry.他是法国血统的美国人。

6 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？