VOA常速英语2014--IMF, International Community Step Up Aid for Ukraine 国际货币基金组织欲资助乌克兰

 

IMF, International Community Step Up Aid for Ukraine 国际货币基金组织欲资助乌克兰

Around the world, support for Ukraine’s battered² economy is gaining ground.  On Thursday, the International Monetary³ Fund agreed to a two-year bailout worth up to $18 billion, with additional loan guarantees from member countries worth another $9 billion.  And, in the U.S., both houses of Congress displayed a rare moment of unity¹ - reprimanding Russia for its aggressive takeover of Crimea and approving additional financial aid for the former Soviet⁴ Republic.  

现世界范围内欲资助乌克兰破碎经济声势高涨。在星期四，国际货币基金组织同意两年紧急融资1亿8千万美元，成员国再额外贷款保证金9千万。在美国，众议院与参议院都表现出难得一见的团结时刻，谴责俄侵略性质接管克里米亚及俄对前苏维埃共和国经济资助。

With an economy forecast to shrink by 3 percent, and immediate⁵ debt payments equivalent to a third of its domestic output, Ukraine is a country in desperate need of a lifeline.  In a passionate⁶ address to parliament, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk did not mince⁷ words.

由于经济前瞻性使乌克兰经济衰退三个百分点，立即到期的债务又相当于等国内收入三分之一，乌克兰绝望地挣扎在生死线上。在国会饱含深情的演讲中，乌克兰总理阿尔谢尼·亚采纽克对如今的情况直言不讳。

“The country is on the brink⁸ of economic and financial bankruptcy," said Yatsenyuk.

“国家正处于经济崩溃的边缘。”亚采纽克说道。

In a bid to stabilize⁹ Ukraine’s economy, IMF mission chief Nickolay Gueorguiev says the world lending body has agreed to provide up to $18 billion in emergency aid, not counting the additional loan guarantees.

在提议稳定乌克兰经济提议中，IMF执行长官尼古拉·古奥夫谈到，世界贷款机构同意提供1亿8千万美元紧急援助，但还不包括额外的贷款保证金资助。

“This financial support amounts to $27 billion over the next two years," said Gueorguiev.

“未来两年经济资助要达到2亿7千万。”古奥夫提到。

But European Union Commissioner¹⁰ Olli Rehn says the bailout is conditional¹¹ on Ukraine agreeing to tough austerity measures.  

但欧盟理事奥利·雷恩表示融资将根据乌克兰经济紧缩措施调整。

“This financial assistance will help in stabilizing¹² the worsening financial situation in Ukraine and therefore will be one vital part of achieving a peaceful and negotiated solution to the crisis," said Rehn.

“经济支援会帮助稳定乌克兰糟糕的经济情况，这会成为和平协商处理危机的关键举动。”雷恩谈到。

While most in Kyiv welcomed the support from the international community, some worry about how the money will be spent.

虽然基辅绝大多数群众愿意接受国际组织的帮助，但仍有少数人对资金如何使用持忧虑态度。

“They are offering us false hope because this is a loan, and loans need to be paid back.  If this money gets stolen and taxpayers¹³ need to repay the loan - that would be unfair," said a Ukrainian woman.

“他们给予我们错误的希望，因为这只是贷款。而贷款是需要偿还的。如果这笔资金弄丢了，那纳税人需要重新偿还贷款，这是非常不公平的。”一位乌克兰女性说道。

U.S. lawmakers have also stepped up efforts to assist the former Soviet republic.  On Thursday, both houses of Congress approved legislation guaranteeing up to a billion dollars in loans.  Senate leader Harry¹⁴ Reid says that includes an additional $100 million in direct aid.   

美国议员也介入帮组前苏维埃共和国事宜中。在星期四，国会两院通过了确保1千万美元贷款到位的提案。参议院领袖哈利·雷德提到，这里包括一百美元的直接资助。

"What we are doing here today is just the beginning.  I support this legislation.  I am proud of my Senate colleagues who join me in standing¹⁵ up for the people of Ukraine," said Reid.

“我们今天所做的只是开始。我支持这项法案。我很自豪为与我站在支持乌克兰人民立场上的参议院同仁自豪。”

Despite the rare bipartisan agreement, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says more needs to be done.

除了极少数的两党契约，共和党参议员林赛·格兰认为必须加大力度支持。

“Should the United States and our NATO partners at the request of the Ukrainian people supply them with defensive¹⁶ weapons to rebuild a military gutted¹⁷ by pro-Russian elements?  To me the answer is yes, because if you want to make Putin think twice about what he does next, he has got to pay a price greater than he has for Crimea," said Graham.

“在乌克兰人民要求下，美国会与北约成员会为乌克兰提供防御武器来重建被亲俄势力破换的军事力量吗？对我来说，答案是肯定的。因为如果你要让普京三思之后的举动，他必须付出对待克里米亚更惨痛的代价。”格兰指出。

 

The U.S. is considering additional measures to further isolate¹⁸ Russia, but some worry new sanctions could hurt the U.S. and European economies.

美国正在考虑进一步隔离俄罗斯措施，但仍有人顾虑新的制裁会影响美国与欧洲经济。

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。

3 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

4 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

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 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

7 mince   

n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说

参考例句：

• Would you like me to mince the meat for you?你要我替你把肉切碎吗？
• Don't mince matters,but speak plainly.不要含糊其词，有话就直说吧。

8 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

9 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

10 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。

11 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

12 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

13 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

14 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

15 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

16 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

17 gutted   

adj.容易消化的v.毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的过去式和过去分词 )；取出…的内脏

参考例句：

• Disappointed? I was gutted! 失望？我是伤心透了！
• The invaders gutted the historic building. 侵略者们将那幢历史上有名的建筑洗劫一空。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。