VOA标准英语2013--Cyprus Banks Reopen, Bailout Negotiations Continue

 

Cyprus Banks Reopen, Bailout Negotiations¹ Continue

Depositors formed long lines on the sidewalks and streets outside their banks long before the doors were unlocked at noon, local time - anxiously awaiting access to their accounts.

The banks were scheduled to stay open for just six hours, with customers only allowed to withdraw $383 a day.

Travelers leaving the Mediterranean² island can take no more than $3,831 to other countries.

The restrictions³ are part of the deal negotiated with the nation's creditors⁴, including the European Union. European Commission Spokesman Sebastian Brabant says the restrictions are needed to maintain financial stability:

"Cyprus is facing exceptionally difficult circumstances including a very real risk of uncontrollable capital flight," said Brabant. "Therefore, the Commission considers, having made a preliminary assessment⁵ of the Cypriot laws, that the conditions for restricting free movement of capital are met in Cyprus at this stage."

The Cypriot cabinet met Thursday at the Presidential Palace to discuss terms of the bailout agreement.

European financial markets were steady Thursday as the banks reopened. Economist⁶ Pier⁷ Carlo Padoan said the markets were no longer concerned about the situation in Cyprus:

"If we have to judge from what has been happening in the last few days, we take the message that markets are not particularly worried about Cyprus and that the positive fact that I alluded⁸ to previously⁹, the fact that the overall systemic risk of the region had been going down, is not going to be changed by what is happening in Cyprus," said Padoan.

Security was tight Wednesday evening as armored trucks delivered thousands of euros to the Bank of Cyprus, while employees prepared to resume operations.

Cyprus banks have been closed since March 16 while the government negotiated a $13 billion bailout from European neighbors, the European Central Bank and International Monetary¹⁰ Fund. As part of the deal, Cyprus agreed to confiscate¹¹ 40 percent or more from the biggest, uninsured accounts above $130,000 to help pay for the rescue. 

1 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。

2 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

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

4 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

7 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

8 alluded   

提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• In your remarks you alluded to a certain sinister design. 在你的谈话中，你提到了某个阴谋。
• She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles. 她还影射了对手过去的婚姻问题。

9 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

10 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

11 confiscate   

v.没收(私人财产)，把…充公

参考例句：

• The police have the right to confiscate any forbidden objects they find.如发现违禁货物，警方有权查扣。
• Did the teacher confiscate your toy?老师没收你的玩具了吗？