VOA常速英语2015--俄罗斯在经济危机中庆祝新年

俄罗斯在经济危机中庆祝新年

WASHINGTON— Despite dire 1 predictions about Russia's economy for 2015, many Russians welcomed the New Year with cheers and hopes for a better future. With the sinking value of the ruble, some people say they crave 2 stability more than they do prosperity. But the troubles, including political tensions with the West, seem to have spurred a surge of national pride, something Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to boost with his New Year's message. Hopes for a better future also seem especially high among Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine.

The fireworks in Moscow's Red Square on New Year's Eve were greeted with much enthusiasm, recalling better times in Russia.

新年前夜莫斯科红场上的烟花让人们很兴奋，让人回想起俄罗斯的好时光。

"We wish the most positive, all the best, for Russia. It will win - Russia is always the best, the most powerful. Russia rules! Hooray! Go Russia!" said one Muscovite.

“我们希望俄罗斯能有最好的结果，俄罗斯会赢的，俄罗斯总是最好的、最强大的！俄罗斯是主宰者，万岁，来俄罗斯吧！”

But sinking oil prices combined with Western sanctions against Russia could lead to an economic recession in the country this year. The value of the Russian ruble has declined by about one-half against Western currencies, bewildering ordinary Russians.

但是油价下跌和西方对俄罗斯的制裁将导致该国今年经济衰退，俄罗斯卢布价值兑西方货币已经下跌了一半，这令俄罗斯普通百姓很是不解。

"I looked at the exchange rate every day. It was simply interesting for me to watch this exchange rate that was growing and falling and then growing. But it had no effect on me. When you have nothing you can't lose anything either!" said Elena, a local.

“我每天都在观察汇率，对我来说，看汇率涨涨跌跌很有趣，但这对我没有影响，当你一无所有时，你也失去不了什么。”

Even President Putin warned Russians of the possible difficulties ahead.

甚至普京总统也警告俄罗斯人前面会遇到的可能困难。

"In the coming year, we will together have to solve many problems. And the year will turn out the way we ourselves decide to make it -- the results will be as effective, creative, as each of us endeavor to make them. There are simply no other recipes,” said Putin.

“在新的一年，我们将一起解决很多问题。新的一年将有什么成果取决于我们如何行动，如果我们每个人都努力，那么将是很有成果、创造性的一年，实在没有其他的捷径。”

But while he vowed 3 that Russia will soon overcome its problems, Putin's opponents are predicting a dark future.

但同时他承诺俄罗斯将很快克服其困难，普京的反对者预测未来将更凄惨。

"The end is near, the country is at the brink 4 of going down. I have these kinds of feelings. That's why I'm saying that people will take to the street demanding a change to the situation, and we will contribute to this. That's why I think that 2015 is a very important year. I would say it may be a historic year," said Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Russian prime minister and opposition 5 leader.

“马上要看到结果了，这个国家面临崩溃的边缘，我有这种感觉。所以我说人们会走上街头要求改变现状，我们将促成这个结果。因此我认为2015年是很重要的一年，我敢说是具有历史意义的一年。”卡西亚诺夫是俄罗斯前总理兼反对派领袖。

Russian financial officials say that with some effort, an economic disaster can be avoided.

俄罗斯的财政官员称只要做出一定的努力，是可以避免经济灾难的。

"Any improvement, even a very small local one, in general policy, is able to strengthen the markets. For example, European sanctions need to be voted upon to be extended, and maybe if Russia doesn't give cause for a strengthening of sanctions, we can get a positive result in that case," said Sergei Romanchuk, who works in the foreign exchange and money market department at Metall invest bank.

“任何改进，即使是地方政策上小规模的改变，都可以加强市场。比如，欧洲加大制裁决定需要事先表决，可能如果俄罗斯不给出加大制裁的理由，我们可能就会得到好的结果。”谢尔盖·罗曼丘克就职于金属投资银行的外汇和货币市场部。

The most recent polls show that President Putin still enjoys strong popular support, between 70 and 80 percent. That support is especially high among Russian speakers in Crimea, a Ukrainian territory annexed 6 by Russia last March - and despite shortages of water and electricity they have suffered ever since.

最新民调显示普京总统仍有较强的民众支持，支持率在70%到80%之间。最为支持普京的民众是克里米亚地区讲俄罗斯语的居民，这个乌克兰地区去年3月份被俄罗斯吞并，尽管自那时起当地人就缺少水电。

"We came today to the square to celebrate the New Year together with the town, with the people and to see Putin. They have promised they will switch off the light in the apartments, but we really wanted to see the president. So that's why we came: to feel the unity 7 and the mood of the town. And to celebrate the New Year," said a resident of Sevastopol.

“我们今天来广场是为了和城里人一起庆祝新年和看望普京，他们表示会关掉公寓里的灯，但我们真的希望看到总统。所以我们就来了，来感受城市里的团结情绪，同时庆祝新年。”

The annexation 8 of Crimea and Moscow's support for Russian separatists in the rest of eastern Ukraine have earned Western condemnation 9 and contributed to Russia's economic woes 10. Some Russians are looking at it philosophically 11.

吞并克里米亚以及莫斯科对乌克兰东部俄罗斯分裂分子的支持使得西方进行谴责，并导致了俄罗斯的经济困境，一些俄罗斯人以理智的态度看待这一问题。

"We have got used to being more optimistic, despite everything. Because if you don't laugh, you can go crazy," said Anastasia Khripunova, a student.

“我们已经习惯了保持乐观，不管发生什么。因为如果你不笑起来，你可能会发疯的。”

One singer asked Santa Claus to send Russians a new and unused president packed in a gift box, with a return label in case he is not satisfactory.

一名歌手请求圣诞老人用礼盒给俄罗斯送来一位新的、未使用过的总统，上面还得有退货标签，一旦这位总统不令人满意可以退货。