11-02-06

韩国总统：首尔将同北韩保持友好关系                                                                                                                      (South Korean President: Seoul Will Maintain Friendly Relations with North Korea)

韩国总统说，尽管平壤上个月进行了核试验，但韩国仍将同北韩保持友好关系，确保朝鲜半岛的和平。

卢武铉总统星期四在首尔强调了同北韩保持工作关系以确保韩国自由与稳定的重要性。

平壤上个月进行核武器试验，加剧了地区紧张。在强大的外交压力下，北韩本星期同意重返为结束北韩核项目而进行的六方会谈。

美国驻韩国大使星期四表示，即使平壤重返会谈，联合国成员国仍然应当继续执行由于北韩核试验而对这个封闭的政府所采取的制裁措施。

South Korea's president says his country will maintain friendly relations with North Korea to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula, despite Pyongyang's nuclear test last month.

Speaking in Seoul Thursday, President Roh Moo-hyun stressed the importance of maintaining working relations with the North to secure South Korea's freedom and stability.

Tensions in the region spiked last month when Pyongyang tested a nuclear weapon. Under intense diplomatic pressure, North Korea agreed this week to return to six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear program.

The U.S. ambassador to South Korea said Thursday that even if Pyongyang returns to those talks, United Nations members should continue to enforce sanctions against the reclusive government for its nuclear test.

危地马拉和委内瑞拉退出联合国安理会席位的竞争                                                                                             (Guatemala, Venezuela Withdraw From Race for UN Security Council Seat)

巴拿马预计将正式得到有关国家一致推选，成为拉丁美洲在联合国安理会空缺席位的候选国家，从而打破两个星期以来的僵局。

拉丁美洲和加勒比海国家组织星期四举行会议，预计将批准推选巴拿马作为该地区的代表国家。危地马拉和委内瑞拉一天前决定退出竞争。

厄瓜多尔驻联合国大使科多韦斯与危地马拉和委内瑞拉两国外长会晤后宣布了上述的决定。

巴拿马外长星期三发表声明说，虽然巴拿马原来并没有期待会获得安理会席位，不过将努力推动联合国的“世界和平与公正的目标”。

巴拿马在安理会的两年任期还必须得到联合国大会的批准，任期于明年1月1号开始。在拥有15个成员国的安理会中，秘鲁被推选获得代表拉丁美洲的另一个席位。

Panama is expected to be formally endorsed as the consensus candidate for the open Latin American seat on the U.N. Security Council, breaking a two-week deadlock.

The Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries will meet Thursday and is expected to approve Panama's selection to represent the region, one day after Guatemala and Venezuela withdrew their competing bids for the seat.

Ecuador's U.N. ambassador, Diego Cordovez, announced the deal after meetings with the foreign ministers of both nations.

Panama's foreign ministry released a statement Wednesday saying it had not expected a seat on the Security Council, but would work to promote the U.N.'s "goals of peace and justice in the world."

The U.N. General Assembly must also approve Panama's selection for a two-year term on the council beginning January first. Peru holds the other elected Latin American seat on the 15-member council.