VOA常速英语2007年-Human Rights, Conflict Overshadow Broader Issue

By Scott Bobb
Lisbon
07 December 2007

More than 70 leaders from Europe and Africa are gathering¹ in Portugal for the summit of Africa and the European Union. The summit is to draft a strategy to guide cooperation on a broad range of areas. But, as we hear from correspondent Scott Bobb in Lisbon, the gathering is being overshadowed by war and political issues.

African and European leaders Saturday begin work on a strategic partnership² aimed at forging a more balanced relationship over the coming years. But human rights issues and conflicts on the African continent continue to draw attention away from the main purpose of the gathering.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has arrived Thursday quietly in the Portuguese³ capital. He received an invitation despite being banned from Europe five years ago because of rigged elections in his country. His attendance prompted a boycott⁴ by the prime minister of Britain, the former colonial power in Zimbabwe.

The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, acknowledged Zimbabwe is a concern, asking how leaders who fought to free Africa from colonialism could now prohibit freedom among their own people.

Nevertheless, he says this is a summit of Europe and Africa, not just a European summit with Zimbabwe. And noting there are other countries with human rights concerns in Africa and in Europe he says the EU should address this question consistently with all its partners.

The summit is to issue a plan of action bolstering⁵ cooperation in the areas of peace and security, governance and human rights, trade and economic integration⁶ and in development.

The EU reportedly is preparing to announce an aid package for Africa totaling 1.2 billion euros - nearly $2 billion - for next year. This is set to rise to 2 billion euros - or $3 billion - by 2010.

The summit is drawing its share of protests, against atrocities⁷ and human rights violations⁸ in Sudan's Darfur region, Eritrea, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On the eve of the summit Friday, 40 European and African members of parliament issued a statement urging the leaders, in their words, not to turn their backs on the human suffering in Darfur. Several dozen human rights groups issued a similar statement.

And anti-globalization activists⁹ Friday marched near the summit site to protest agricultural policies that threaten small farms.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

4 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

5 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 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。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》