VOA常速英语2007年-EU Looks to Further Tighten Blood-Diamond Trade

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
06 November 2007

The European Union is hosting a meeting this week to assess the progress in eradicating¹ conflict diamonds - illicitly³ traded diamonds that have fueled a number of wars across Africa. From Paris, Lisa Bryant reports that despite strides, conflict diamond experts say more needs to be done.

The Brussels diamond meeting marks five years since the start of the Kimberly Process - a global watchdog group that includes the European Union and aims to stop the flow of so-called conflict or blood diamonds.

European External Relations Commissioner⁴ Benita Ferrero-Waldner hailed the progress made since the start of Kimberly in 2002. She said diamonds are no longer a rebel's best friend - referring to warlords who have used the jewels to fuel conflicts in such African countries as Angola, Congo, Sierra Leone, and LIberia. And the diamond industry, which has been accused of being opaque⁵, revealed its production figures this year for the first time.

But despite strides in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Annie Dunnebacke, a campaigner for the London-based watchdog Global Witness says more needs to be done.

"In many countries, especially in many African countries, we are seeing an increase in official diamond exports and that is a very good sign," said Dunnebacke. 

"Unfortunately, on a global scale, we are also seeing an increase in illicit² flows of rough diamonds that are being trading outside the Kimberly process. So we are really hoping that this week, the K.P. [Kimberly Process] with the E.C. [European Commission] chair addresses these weaknesses. But also that India - which is the incoming chair - continues to address them effectively next year," she added.

During the Brussels meeting that ends Thursday, participants will try to strengthen existing controls against the flow of illicit diamonds. The 27-member European Union is a Kimberly Process member - and 80 percent of rough diamonds end up in the Belgium city of Antwerp, where they are finished.

Belgian media reported last weekend that police had seized $20 million worth of diamonds believed to have come from Ivory Coast, which has been torn by conflict in recent years. The country faces an international embargo⁶ against exporting diamonds.

1 eradicating   

摧毁，完全根除( eradicate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Objective: To study the acute and chronic toxicity of Ten-flavor-acne eradicating-capsule. 目的：探讨复方中药合剂十味平痤胶囊的急性及慢性毒性。
• We are on the verge of eradicating polio in the world. 我们已在世界消除小儿？痹症的边缘了。

2 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%。

3 illicitly   

违法地，不正地

参考例句：

• That substance illicitly to fool quality-inspection testers because it can mimic the properties of protein. 乳制品之所以添加三聚氰胺是因为它可以虚增蛋白质含量、在质量测试中蒙混过关。
• Western governments international bodies should police Gaza's borders and crossing-points to stop weapons illicitly coming in. 西方政府和国际组织应该巡查加沙边界和交叉区域，阻止武器的非法流入。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 opaque   

adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的

参考例句：

• The windows are of opaque glass.这些窗户装着不透明玻璃。
• Their intentions remained opaque.他们的意图仍然令人费解。

6 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。