VOA标准英语2008年-US, Libya Near Compensation Deal on Terror Atta

The State Department confirms that the United States and Libya are close to finishing a comprehensive deal to settle outstanding claims from Libyan-backed acts of terrorism in the 1980s. The U.S. Senate Thursday approved a key component¹ of the deal. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Relations between the two countries have improved markedly since 2003 when Libya renounced² terrorism and agreed to give up its weapons of mass destruction programs.

But political and economic relations have not been completely normalized due to lingering disputes over compensating³ American and other victims of 1980's acts of terrorism for which Libya has taken responsibility.

Now, in an apparent breakthrough, the Bush administration and the government of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi have worked out a tentative deal that would clear away remaining claims.

Officials say that under terms of the accord, Libya would set aside about $1 billion to pay remaining claims from the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, a 1986 bombing of a West Berlin disco frequented by U.S. servicemen, and other attacks tied to Libya.

A critical part of the deal is approval by the Congress of a measure giving Libya immunity⁴ from a previous U.S. law that gave victims enhanced powers to seize assets of countries involved in terrorism.

The U.S. Senate quietly approved such legislation Thursday morning and State Department officials are hopeful the House will quickly follow suit.

At a Senate committee hearing Thursday, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte welcomed the unanimous Senate vote. "I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for your support for the legislation that just passed the Senate to help facilitate a comprehensive claims-settlement agreement with Libya. This initiative provides the best opportunity for American claimants to receive fair compensation in an expedited manner, and would help turn the page on the last vestige⁵ of our contentious⁶ past with Libya so that we can focus on the future of our relationship," he said.

Libya agreed in 2003 to pay out $10 million each to the families of all 270 people killed in the Lockerbie attack, in a phased payout linked to normalization⁷ steps.

But the process was bogged⁸ down by legal disputes and more than $500 million is yet to be paid in the Pan Am case, as is nearly $300 million in the Berlin disco attack.

The legislation pending⁹ in Congress would empower the Secretary of State to set up an entity¹⁰ that would distribute the additional funds from Libya.

Most, but not all, victims' families support the pending deal.

Lawyers for some plaintiffs in the Berlin case say they could be left out of the arrangement, and contend that the immunity legislation for Libya sets a bad precedent¹¹ for future dealings with other countries listed as terrorism sponsors.

The lingering legal cases are believed to have curtailed¹² potential U.S.-Libyan trade, with Libyan firms in particular reluctant to invest in the United States out of concern their assets could be seized.

The United States restored diplomatic relations with Libya in 2006. But members of Congress concerned about compensation issues have prevented a U.S. ambassador from taking up residence in Tripoli, and have blocked funds to build a new embassy.

Though Libya's foreign minister has visited Washington, aides to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have said she would not go to Libya without a compensation settlement.

 

 

1 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

2 renounced   

v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃

参考例句：

• We have renounced the use of force to settle our disputes. 我们已再次宣布放弃使用武力来解决争端。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Andrew renounced his claim to the property. 安德鲁放弃了财产的所有权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 compensating   

补偿，补助，修正

参考例句：

• I am able to set up compensating networks of nerve connections. 我能建立起补偿性的神经联系网。
• It is desirable that compensating cables be run in earthed conduit. 补偿导线最好在地下管道中穿过。

4 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

5 vestige   

n.痕迹，遗迹，残余

参考例句：

• Some upright stones in wild places are the vestige of ancient religions.荒原上一些直立的石块是古老宗教的遗迹。
• Every vestige has been swept away.一切痕迹都被一扫而光。

6 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

7 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。

8 bogged   

adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍

参考例句：

• The professor bogged down in the middle of his speech. 教授的演讲只说了一半便讲不下去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The tractor is bogged down in the mud. 拖拉机陷入了泥沼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

10 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

11 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

12 curtailed   

v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Spending on books has been severely curtailed. 购书开支已被大大削减。
• Their public health programme had to be severely curtailed. 他们的公共卫生计划不得不大大收缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》