[B] Russian Gas Swap Scheme Gets Cold Shoulder in Central Asia

LET'S READ!

Direction: Read the news with your teacher.

News Flash (3)

1. What is the main concern expressed by Uzbek Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov regarding the proposed gas union with Russia?

2. Why does Uzbekistan see the gas agreement with Russia as a technical contract rather than a union?

3. What are the potential benefits for the Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan, in joining a gas union with Russia?

4. What concerns fuel the opposition to the gas union proposal in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?

5. What actions have the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan taken regarding the Russian proposal so far?

LET'S RECAP!

NEWSFLASH TEMPLATES [Recovered]-05 copy

1. Which new words/phrases were easiest to remember? Give three.

どの語句/文が覚えやすかったですか？３つ挙げてください。

2. Which words/phrases were you having a hard time to speak/understand? Give three.

どの語句/文が話したり理解するのに難しかったですか？３つ挙げてください。

resistance

[ ri-'zis-tuhns]

noun

- the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something

There has been a lot of resistance to this new law.

landlocked

[ 'land-lokt ]

adjective

- surrounded by the land of other countries and having no coast

Austria is a landlocked country in central Europe.

annexation

[ an-ik-'sey-shuhn ]

noun

- the act of taking possession of an area of land or a country, usually by force or without permission

The annexation of the Republic of Texas by the United States took place in 1945.

strings attached

idiom

- if something such as an agreement has strings attached, it involves special demands of limits

Most of these so-called offers come with strings attached.

dash cold water on something

idiom

- to discourage doing something or reduce enthusiasm for something

When my father said I couldn't borrow the car, he dashed cold water on my plans.