VOA标准英语2009年-Berlusconi to Go Ahead With Libya Visit, D

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is planning to go ahead with a trip to Libya this week to meet with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. International outrage¹ over the warm welcome-home reception given to the convicted Lockerbie bomber² who was released from jail in Scotland last week, will not affect the scheduled trip.
　
Silvio Berlusconi (file photo)

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is planning to meet with Colonel Leader Moammar Gadhafi on August 30th to mark the first anniversary of a compensation and immigration accord between Italy and Libya. That plan is not changing despite outrage in London and Washington over the warm reception given by Tripoli to terminally ill Lockerbie bomber, who returned to Libya last week.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini put an end to debate on the matter saying the visit is very timely because Mr. Gadhafi is the head of the African Union and has collaborated³ with Italy on immigration issues.

The immigration accord between Italy and Libya went into effect in May and allows migrants intercepted⁴ in international waters and heading to Italy to be sent back to Libya, which is one of the main points of departure on the African coast.

Since the new policy toward such migrants was adopted by Italy, the number of arrivals of in the southern island of Lampedusa has seen a significant drop. But the latest tragedy, in which 73 migrants are believed to have died as they attempted the crossing from Libya, has led to renewed criticism of Italy's policy.

Frattini has said Sicily is paying too high a price just for being the gateway⁵ to Europe. He has defended Italy's record in saving the lives of migrants found at sea and said the European Union must share the burden.

Frattini says the European Union, which is now made up of 26 nations, must take on proportional responsibility for the flow of these people, who, he says, are in need of protection.

Prime Minister Berlusconi is expected to address the issue of immigration and Mediterranean⁶ collaboration⁷ during his meeting with Colonel Ghadafi. He is also expected to lay the first stone of the coastal⁸ highway Italy has pledged to build in Libya in compensation for its colonial rule.

Mr. Berlusconi will also be visiting Libya just two days ahead of major celebrations scheduled in Libya to mark the 40th anniversary of the coup⁹ that brought him to power.

1 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

2 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

3 collaborated   

合作( collaborate的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• We have collaborated on many projects over the years. 这些年来我们合作搞了许多项目。
• We have collaborated closely with the university on this project. 我们与大学在这个专案上紧密合作。

4 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

5 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。

6 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。

7 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

8 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

9 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。