VOA慢速英语2012 Economics Report - Conflict Presses Syrian Economy

 

Economics Report - Conflict Presses Syrian Economy

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Eighteen months of conflict in Syria have hurt the country’s economy. But in the capital, Damascus, a certain level of normalcy exists. Prices are higher. But goods are still available.

VOA reporter Elizabeth Arrott recently visited Damascus. Her visit took place under the guidance of a Syrian government official.

She says the Spice Market of Old Damascus is an unusual sight in a country affected¹ by civil war. Syrian military forces are striking nearby towns were rebels have support. But in the center of Damascus, business is good.

One man operates a business once by his father and grandfather. He sells cumin, dried peppers, pine nuts and almonds.

He says work is about the same, but prices have gone up. This has affected both his customers and business. He is thankful that supplies are still arriving at his shop. But he says people are cutting back, and mainly buying only essential goods.

Another shopkeeper says business has fallen.

“You know we live in a very difficult atmosphere, the atmosphere of crisis.”

Afif Dala is with the Syrian Ministry² of Economy and Trade. He says Western restrictions³ on Syria for its violent reaction to government opponents have caused problems. But the government has worked to keep business in the capital normal.

“But the Syrian economy actually depends on itself. There is a self-sufficiency in the Syrian economy because the Syrian economy is very diverse."

Syria, however, also seeks help from outside the country. Russia, China and Venezuela are major trade partners of Syria.

“There are a lot of countries, actually, because finally the interests, the economic interests between countries are talk, not anything else. It is not a moral thing, the Syrian economy, only; also its interests.

But conditions in Syria are important to other countries. This is especially true when many thousands of people have been killed in violence across Syria. This has forced tens of thousands of people to cross the border to escape the conflict.

This week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Syria at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. He said actions of Turkey’s neighbor are "hurting the heart of humanity and the whole Islamic world."

Mr. Erdogan said there are almost one hundred thousand Syrian refugees in Turkey. And he expects more will enter as they flee fighting between Syrian government and rebel forces.

And that’s the VOA Special English Economics Report. I’m Mario Ritter.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制