voa标准英语2008-Ukraine Threatened Again by Mid-Winter Russian G
时间:2018-11-29 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2008年(十二月)
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller 3 told Russia's Vesti 24 television the company has created an operations center to begin technical preparations for cutting gas supplies to Ukraine.
Sergei Kupriyanov speaks at a news conference in Moscow, 30 Dec 2008
In a colorful turn of phrase, Gazprom spokesman 4 Sergei Kupriyanov told a Moscow news conference Tuesday that Miller was in talks wielding 5 a club in hopes of reaching a last-minute agreement with the Ukrainian side.
Kupriyanov says Gazprom has been seeking alternatives that would offer their Ukrainian colleagues another way of settling the debt, including advance payment by Gazprom to the Ukrainian gas company, Naftogaz of Ukraine, for gas pipeline 6 transit 7 rights through that country.
However, Oleksiy Hudyma, energy advisor 8 to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, told VOA that Ukraine's current debt is less than $1 billion, because the second billion represents payment for December gas that does not come due until January 25.
He says the recent sharp devaluation of Ukraine's currency, the hryvna, has made it difficult for the country to pay the debt in U.S. dollars, adding that Russia is not so much interested in getting its money, but using energy to play politics.
Hudyma says Moscow is trying to influence Europe by suggesting Ukraine can interrupt its energy supplies and to make Europeans better appreciate the importance of Russia. He says Russia is also seeking control over Ukraine's gas transport system, adding that Gazprom's proposal to settle the Ukrainian debt by allowing the company to pay in advance for transit rights will leave Ukraine with no profit in 2009.
Pipes seen in a gas storage and transit point in Boyarka, just outside Kyiv, Ukraine (file photo)
Hudyma and Gazprom both assure consumers in Western Europe that their gas supplies will not be cut, though for slightly different reasons. Gazprom spokesman Kupriyanov says Ukraine is obligated by contract not to reduce European supplies that transit through Ukraine, while energy advisor Hudyma says his country has enough reserves to supply itself and Europe at least through April.
Hudyma says there will be no harmful effects on Europe under any circumstances. If those circumstances become critical and Russia tries to limit supplies in a critical situation, he says Ukraine will get by on reserves that are stored underground.
Russia says it will charge Ukraine a market price of $418 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. But Oleksiy Hudyma says that price is arbitrary, noting that the Czech republic pays only $350, though it is much farther downstream from Russia than Ukraine.
He adds that much of the gas Ukraine receives from Russia is mixed with cheaper supplies from Turkmenistan, for which he claims Russia does not yet have a contract.
Ukrainian and Russian representatives are all expressing hope for a last minute agreement.
- His monopoly of shipbuilding in that country has been established.他对那个国家造船业的垄断已经建立起来。
- In many countries,tobacco is a government monopoly.在许多国家,烟草由政府专营。
- I feel honor bound to repay the money I borrowed.我觉得有责任归还我借的钱。
- I must repay her for her kindness.我必须报答她的恩惠。
- 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。
- The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
- They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。
- The rebels were wielding sticks of dynamite. 叛乱分子舞动着棒状炸药。
- He is wielding a knife. 他在挥舞着一把刀。
- 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。