Yet in a statement Mr. Joyce referred to the problems as a "short-term disruption" that will be resolved in 2006.

The aim was to maximise short-term disruption of what was considered to be 'normal' behaviour.

IT may prove true that short-term disruption to air travel would result if bankrupt airlines have to sell assets because of unsuccessful restructuring.

There could be short-term disruption of Soviet trade, depending on developments.

Attracted by Russia's enormous potential to consume and produce their goods, these corporations have made a long-term commitment regardless of short-term disruptions.

There's a public good that evolves out of short-term disruption.

He said "retro-fitting" large-scale transport projects into a city the size of Melbourne would cause unavoidable short-term disruption, but would produce long-term benefits.

But Mr. Speir, of the Energy Department, agreed that the low inventory "will make prices vulnerable to short-term disruptions due to cold weather."

"Whenever the market has experienced a short-term disruption, it has always bounced back," he said.

"Like Eastern Europe, if you introduce shock therapy and go from a nonmarket to a market, the short-term disruption is enormous," Mr. Rose said.