VOA常速英语2007-DRC President Will Head Regional African Economi

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
31 October 2007

The Economic Community of Central African States has named Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila to be its next head.  Analysts² say Mr. Kabila, who has been accused of human rights abuses and corruption⁴ in his own country, is nevertheless a smart choice for the regional body.  Naomi Schwarz has more from VOA's West and Central Africa bureau in Dakar.

Despite decades of rebellion and economic instability, the Democratic Republic of Congo and its president, Joseph Kabila, are the logical choice to lead Central Africa's regional economic body, some experts say.

Muzong Kodi is an analyst¹ for Britain-based research institute Chatham House.

"The DRC by itself with its 16 million-plus population has more people than the rest of Central Africa combined," Kodi said. "It also has a potentially very dynamic and rich economy which can contribute to the development of the sub-region."

Mr. Kabila was chosen at the 13th conference of heads of state and governments, held this week in Brazzaville, capital of the neighboring Republic of Congo.  Mr. Kabila will take over from that country's president, Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Kodi says the Democratic Republic of Congo's increased involvement in the Economic Community of Central African States and the country's increasing stability after democratic elections held last year, are what the regional economic body needs to become a real power.

"With all the problems that the DRC has had over the last two decades, there was no way the organization could really take off," Kodi said. "Now that DRC is coming out of the problems that it had, and its economy is showing signs to stabilize⁵, I think the organization stands to gain quite a lot."

Despite some signs of progress in Congo, Mr. Kabila faces a growing conflict with rebels in the east of the country. Non-governmental organizations have accused his government of gross human rights violations⁶ and corruption.  But Kodi says his controversial profile is unlikely to hurt ECCAS.

"He is not any worse than many of the other presidents he is with," he said.

ECCAS members also include Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Cameroon,  Sao Tome and Principe, and Rwanda.  Chad and Central African Republic are grappling with rebellions and ethnic⁷ conflicts. 

Those countries, plus the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea, rank among the world's 20 most corrupt³ nations.  Other countries within the region have been accused of human rights abuse, illegal exploitation of natural resources and rigging elections.

The regional economic body was founded more than two decades ago to promote economic integration⁸.

But so far, says Institute for Security Studies' Paul Simon Hendy, it has failed to implement⁹ key steps in that direction.

"Tariff¹⁰ and trade barriers are still very high in that region," he said. "That means the intra-region trade is extremely weak, partly because of these trade barriers.  And also, you still need a visa going from an ECCAS country to another one."

But he says he has seen signs the member states are starting to see the importance of lowering barriers.

"ECCAS is trying to find its way towards new dynamism, new vitality¹¹, and it is more than time to have that kind of resolution in the region," Hendy said.

In 1999, Angola, one of the larger economies in the region, joined the community, which analysts say was a catalyst¹² towards integration. The European Union has also encouraged ECCAS to increase economic integration.

In a message to the ECCAS meeting in Brazzaville this week, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised the region for its steps toward integration and peace.  But he said continued troubles in the region create obstacles to the population's prosperity and well-being¹³.  

1 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

4 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

5 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

6 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 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。

9 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

10 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

11 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

12 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

13 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。