Relations establish relations, break off relations, restore relations, normalise relations, sour relations, strained relations, tense relations, frosty relations thaw.

Two countries beginning diplomaticrelations establish them. If they had diplomatic relations previously butbroke themoff, theyrestore them, normalising relations between them.

Bad relations are often described asstrained, tense or frosty. Relations are said to besoured by something that negatively affects them.

When bad relations between countries improve, commentators talk about athaw between the countries.

A country having diplomatic relations with very few other countries isdiplomatically isolated.

When one country wants to put pressure on another, it may limit trade with that country and impose sanctions, or it may stop trade and other contacts and impose aneconomic embargo.

LANGUAGE NOTE

Thaw is a noun and a verb.

· Denmark and Iceland have become the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the three Baltic republics,

· After Indonesia's invasion of East Timor, Portugal broke offdiplomatic relations with Indonesia.

· Britain's trade with Iran cannot be wholly unrelated to the two countries' history of strained relations. Though diplomatic relations were restored last year, ambassadors have not been exchanged yet.

· The trip is being seen as an important step in normalising relations between the two countries. Our correspondent says that the visit undoubtedly marks a thaw in Harare's previously frosty_ attitude to South Africa.

· Japan -fearful of putting further strain on its already tense relations with the United States - has continued to support the economic embargo against Vietnam, albeit unwillingly.

· By extending central rule, the government risks souring relations with the Sikhs.

· Some Europeans think that, if Serbia were morally and diplomatically isolated, it would think twice about fighting on.

· The United States is considering imposing trade sanctions against Thailand, unless Thailand lifts a ban on foreign cigarette imports and advertising.

Diplomatic relations.Which of the verbs below mean the same as i) 'break off’ and 2) 'restore' in the context of diplomatic relations? Use appropriate forms of the verbs to complete the extracts below.

a resume c re-open e break b renew

d cut off f re-establish

1 Senegal and Mauritania have agreed in principle to _ _ _ diplomatic relations, broken off two years ago after bloody clashes along the 'Sen'egal river which forms' their common frontier.

2 The Moscow talks were the first between senior diplomats of the two countries since the Soviet Union _ _ _ _ _ _ diplomatic relations with Israel in 1967.

3 Mexico and the Vatican _____ diplomatic relations in 1867, when the reformist President Juarez confiscated all church properties and suppressed the religious orders.

4 The visit is taking place just over three months after Argentina and Britain agreed to _____ diplomatic relations eight years after the two countries broke all links during the Falklands War.

5 In recent years, Albania has __-___„_______ diplomatic relations with

most European countries.

6 Table tennis teams were visiting China before Nixon - diplomatic relations between Communist China and the United States.

War and threats of war

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 1246