11-02-06

南韓總統：首爾將同北韓保持友好關係                                                                                                                      (South Korean President: Seoul Will Maintain Friendly Relations with North Korea)

南韓總統說，儘管平壤上個月進行了核子試驗，但南韓仍將同北韓保持友好關係，確保北韓半島的和平。

盧武鉉總統星期四在首爾強調了同北韓保持工作關係以確保南韓自由與穩定的重要性。

平壤上個月進行核武器試驗，加劇了地區緊張。在強大的外交壓力下，北韓本星期同意重返為結束北韓核項目而進行的六方會談。

美國駐南韓大使星期四表示，即使平壤重返會談，聯合國成員國仍然應當繼續執行由於北韓核子試驗而對這個封閉的政府所採取的制裁措施。

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.

瓜地馬拉和委內瑞拉退出聯合國安理會席位的競爭                                                                                             (Guatemala, Venezuela Withdraw From Race for UN Security Council Seat)

巴拿馬預計將正式得到有關國家一致推選，成為拉丁美洲在聯合國安理會空缺席位的候選國家，從而打破兩個星期以來的僵局。

拉丁美洲和加勒比海國家組織星期四舉行會議，預計將批准推選巴拿馬作為該地區的代表國家。瓜地馬拉和委內瑞拉一天前決定退出競爭。

厄瓜多駐聯合國大使科多韋斯與瓜地馬拉和委內瑞拉兩國外長會晤後宣佈了上述的決定。

巴拿馬外長星期三發表聲明說，雖然巴拿馬原來並沒有期待會獲得安理會席位，不過將努力推動聯合國的“世界和平與公正的目標”。

巴拿馬在安理會的兩年任期還必須得到聯合國大會的批准，任期于明年1月1號開始。在擁有15個成員國的安理會中，秘魯被推選獲得代表拉丁美洲的另一個席位。

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.