2006年VOA标准英语-Nigeria Working for Release of Oil Worker

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
03 June 2006
 
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has taken charge of mediation¹ efforts to secure the release of eight foreign oil workers seized Friday.

Presidential spokeswoman Remi Oyo told VOA Saturday that substantial progress has been achieved in negotiations² involving President Olusegun Obasanjo and the group responsible for Friday's kidnapping.

"The update is that, negotiations are still going on, and substantial ground has been covered," said Oyo. "President Obasanjo is at this hour optimistic, very optimistic that we will come to a full resolution of the problem, and that the hostages will be released unharmed in the shortest possible time."

Oyo said Friday's abduction was carried out by a local community group seeking to settle scores with an oil company for its alleged³ refusal to fulfill⁴ the terms of an earlier agreement. She said no militants⁵ were involved.

"It is a local problem between the community and an oil company that is operating in the area," she said. "So, it is not a case of militancy⁶. It is important that we make the difference that this is not a case of militancy."

The company that operates the oil rig where the hostages were taken has also confirmed reports that the kidnappers⁷ have offered to negotiate the release of the hostages - six Britons, an American and a Canadian.

Militants in the Niger Delta⁸ have blown up pipelines⁹ and kidnapped foreign workers in recent months to press their demands for a greater share of the country's oil wealth.

Other groups and communities have kidnapped oil workers as bargaining chips to force companies to deliver on a wide range of benefits, including employment for local people, and environmental impact and development projects.

Friday's abduction raised new security fears, after a campaign of militant attacks earlier this year on oil facilities in the Delta cut a quarter of crude oil output from Africa's top producing nation

1 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

6 militancy   

n.warlike behavior or tendency

参考例句：

• Full of militancy and revolutionary ardour, the people of all nationalities in the country are working hard for the realization of the four modernizations. 全国各族人民意气风发， 斗志昂扬，为实现四个现代化而奋战。
• The seniority system is another factor that leads to union militancy. 排资论辈制度也是导致工会好斗争的另一因素。

7 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

9 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。