2007年VOA标准英语-Cape Verde Looks With Concern at Change in Rank

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
12 June 2007

The West African island nation of Cape¹ Verde is working to change its rank as a U.N. designated lesser-developed country, but government officials say they need more help from donors³.  From VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar, Phuong Tran reports the officials and donors are discussing a plan to upgrade Cape Verde's status.

The United Nations has three criteria⁴ that countries must meet to change their economic ranking; a stable resident income, good worker training, and proof of poverty reduction.

Cape Verde Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, & Communities, Victor Borges

Cape Verde's foreign affairs minister, Victor Borges, says Cape Verde is only barely able to show poverty reduction.

He says this may delay or threaten its ability to move up from being a lesser-developed country by January 2008, as planned.

The island country has a long history of droughts and few natural resources.  About 20 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty in barren countryside filled only with volcanic⁵ rocks and decaying colonial-era roads.

The country is heavily dependent on money from Cape Verdeans living outside the islands, as well as about $100 million in aid the country receives each year.

Ironically, an improvement in its U.N. ranking may cause Cape Verde to lose special trade benefits and low-interest loans it now depends on.

Foreign Affairs Minister Borges says without low-interest loans the country will not be able to pay its debts or continue social programs, because 85 percent of its budget comes from outside the country.

For example, he says an agreement with the World Bank now allows Cape Verde to receive zero-interest loans, even though its residents' annual income of almost $2,000 a year would not normally qualify for the aid program.

Borges says he is looking for similar agreements with other donors, as well as help with Cape Verde's nearly $300-million debt.

The minister says the world's leading industrialized countries, known as the G8, do not consider Cape Verde indebted enough to qualify for debt cancellation⁶. 

Borges says this view punishes Cape Verde for managing its donor² funds well and not needing to borrow as much as its neighbors.  He adds loan interest can cripple Cape Verde's chances to survive if it loses the advantages that come with being a lesser-developed country.

The island nation is scheduled to make a final report to the U.N. Secretary-General in December on its transition to a medium-developed country, which is the U.N. rank for countries that fall between lesser-developed and developed countries.

If the new rank is granted, Cape Verde will become the second country to graduate from the U.N. list of lesser-developed countries.  Botswana was the first in 1994. 

1 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

2 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

3 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

5 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

6 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。