VOA标准英语2009年-Russia Proposes Gas Summit

Russia is proposing a summit of all countries involved in the current gas dispute between Moscow and Kyiv. The proposal comes a week after Moscow halted deliveries of Russian gas through a Ukrainian pipeline¹ that supplies much of Europe.
　
Russian PM Vladimir Putin welcomes Slovakia's PM Robert Fico (L), Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev (second L) and Moldova's Zinaida Greceani at Novo Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, 14 Jan 2009

Russian President Dmitri is proposing a summit in Moscow involving all countries affected² by the ongoing³ gas crisis, which has coincided with plunging⁴ winter temperatures in Europe. He made the call during a meeting near the Russian capital with the visiting prime ministers of Bulgaria, Moldova, and Slovakia.

Mr. Medvedev expressed hope the proposed meeting Saturday will facilitate a way out of the current crisis and will help avoid similar situations in the future. The ongoing dispute between Russia and Ukraine has halted or sharply limited gas deliveries to several European countries.

There was no immediate⁵ reaction to the Russian summit proposal from Ukraine or the countries affected by the gas cutoff.

The three visiting prime ministers also met with their Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, who blamed Ukraine for failure to honor a multilateral agreement to resume shipment of gas to Europe.

Mr. Putin told his guests the important thing is that Russia opened the valve in the direction of their countries and is prepared to deliver, but he said the valve on the Ukrainian side is closed and they are not transferring the gas.
　
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Kiev, Ukraine, 14 Jan 2009

In Kyiv, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said the full resumption of gas deliveries to Europe were being delayed because the small amount of gas provided by Russia does not create the pressure needed transport the gas through the pipeline.

Ms. Tymoshenko says another consideration is that Russia tried to send the fuel through a pipeline where Ukrainian gas has been flowing in the opposite direction to service eastern Ukraine, which makes it impossible to deliver gas to Europe along that route.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is warning that he will recommend legal action against the gas companies of Russian and Ukraine, if they do not restore the flow of gas soon.

Russia is also threatening to sue Ukraine to recover export losses that Gazprom Chairman Miller⁶ says currently amount to $1.1 billion.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country now holds the European Union presidency⁷, says the EU should increase efforts to build the Nabucco pipeline, which would circumvent⁸ Russia. The proposed pipeline, which has the support of the United States, would bring Caspian or Middle Eastern gas to Europe.

1 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

2 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。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 plunging   

adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

7 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

8 circumvent   

vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜

参考例句：

• Military planners tried to circumvent the treaty.军事策略家们企图绕开这一条约。
• Any action I took to circumvent his scheme was justified.我为斗赢他的如意算盘而采取的任何行动都是正当的。