2006年VOA标准英语-West African Leaders Move to Endorse Arms Conve

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
14 June 2006

West African leaders are meeting in Nigeria to ratify¹ a draft convention to control the proliferation of small arms in the region.  The agreement is being hailed as a breakthrough for a turbulent region.

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The adoption² of a regional convention on small arms has been described as a major achievement for the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

 

ECOWAS Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibn Chambas (file photo)  
  

Mohammed Ibn Chambas, is the executive secretary of the 15-member organization.

"The ECOWAS summit of June 14 will consider for adoption a proposal to turn the moratorium³ on the importation, circulation and illicit⁴ trafficking in small arms and light weapons into a standing⁵ convention and we are very confident that the heads of state will endorse⁶ this," he said.

The Abuja summit will also discuss the security situation in the region.  West Africa, which groups some of the poorest countries in the world, has also become very unstable⁷ with armed conflicts in a number of countries and threats of widespread violence in several others.
 
Ibn Chambas is convinced the proliferation of small arms have contributed enormously to the instability in the region.

"There are way too many light arms and small weapons circulating in West Africa, in our various member states, so we need to take very decisive steps on how to control, mop up, destroy these arms so that we can begin to enjoy peace and development and democracy in West Africa," he added.

The latest report on the security situation in the region presented to foreign ministers in Abuja Tuesday indicated a marked improvement.  Chambas is happy with the progress made so far.

"We are generally pleased with the progress that has been made in Liberia, in Sierra Leone. In Guinea-Bissau, we are establishing an international contact group to give more focus to that country," he noted⁸.  "In Cote d'Ivoire, ECOWAS continues to work with the international working group to support that country.  We are calling for continued dialogue among all Ivorians, a deepening of the process, national identification, disarmament; all of these must be deepened."
 
Established in 1975 with the aim of advancing economic integration⁹ and creating an economic and political bloc¹⁰ in West Africa, a region rich in diamonds and oil, but suffering from underdevelopment, poverty and the lack of political stability, ECOWAS has become a key player not only in economic integration and development but also in politics and security.
 
It maintains peacekeeping forces in the region and monitors the West African arms trade as part of an international effort to prevent small arms from reaching terrorist and criminal organizations

1 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

2 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

3 moratorium   

n.(行动、活动的)暂停(期)，延期偿付

参考例句：

• The government has called for a moratorium on weapons testing.政府已要求暂停武器试验。
• We recommended a moratorium on two particular kinds of experiments.我们建议暂禁两种特殊的实验。

4 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

7 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

10 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。