2006年VOA标准英语-Ukraine Confirms Cuts in Natural Gas Suppl

By Bill Gasperini
Moscow
01 January 2006

Russia's natural gas monopoly Gazprom headquarters in Moscow, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006   
  
Russia began the process of cutting off natural gas supplies to neighboring Ukraine after talks failed to resolve a price dispute. Ukrainian officials say supplies to western Europe won't be affected¹.

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The new year may not be a very happy one for people in Ukraine as Russia is cutting off their natural gas supply.

Russia's state-run gas company Gazprom ordered the move after talks aimed at finding a compromise over a price increase failed.

Russia wants to quadruple the price of the gas, arguing that Ukraine is now a market economy and must pay market rates.

Ukrainian officials say they are willing to pay a higher price, but the change must be adopted gradually in order to avoid a huge shock to its struggling economy.
 

Gazprom headquarters with a flag showing the company's logo on the foreground  
  
They say there is enough gas in reserve to last through the winter, although industries might be affected if the cut off lasts a long time.

Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kuprianov says the authorities in Ukraine have only themselves to blame for that.

"Their refusal to meet our proposals for resolving the problem will have catastrophic consequences for the Ukrainian economy, and unfortunately for the brotherly Ukrainian people as well," he says.

The two countries have long had a barter² arrangement in which Ukraine pays $50 per 1,000 cubic meters in exchange for the use of its territory for gas pipelines³ to Europe.

Russia says the new price will be $230, and insists the change is purely⁴ for economic reasons.

Ukraine counters that the tough stand by the Kremlin is punishment for the election of pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko a year ago.

They point out that Russia is not raising prices for nearby Belarus, which has remained loyal to Moscow despite its pariah⁵ status in the West as a dictatorship.

Late on Saturday President Vladimir Putin offered to maintain the lower price until April if Kiev agreed to pay the higher one after that.

Ukrainian officials responded that talks to set a fair long-term price must continue.

Much of western Europe's gas supply passes through pipelines in Ukraine, but Gazprom officials say this will not be affected.

But analysts⁶ say Ukraine could siphon off some gas bound for Europe.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 barter   

n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• They have arranged food imports on a barter basis.他们以易货贸易的方式安排食品进口。

3 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

4 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

5 pariah   

n.被社会抛弃者

参考例句：

• Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village.不一会儿，汤姆碰上了村里的少年弃儿。
• His landlady had treated him like a dangerous criminal,a pariah.房东太太对待他就像对待危险的罪犯、对待社会弃儿一样。

6 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。