新紧缩措施让希腊政府困顿难行
The European Union's top economic official says he expects eurozone finance ministers to sign off on the payout of $17 billion in aid for Greece on Sunday and decide on a new bailout in July. The news comes on the heels of the prime minister of Greece reshuffling his Cabinet in an effort to push through a tough austerity package that has many Greek citizens in uproar.
欧盟高级经济官员表示，他预期欧盟区的财政部长们将在星期天批准支付对希腊的170亿美元援助款，并且在7月就新的援助计划作出决定。此前，希腊总理重组内阁，希望借此通过一个艰难的紧缩计划，这个紧缩计划导致很多希腊人的骚动。
EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said Thursday the two-step approach means that the funding of the Greek debt can now be ensured until September, saving it from the immediate risk of default. But, he said, a decision on a new longer-term bailout will be delayed until July amid disagreement over the role of private investors.
欧盟经济事务专员奥利.雷恩星期四表示，这两个步骤意为着，现在能确保为希腊债务拨款到9月，以避免希腊无法支付立即需要的开支。但是奥利.雷恩说，由于私营部门对新的长期援助计划中的角色有分歧，因此将要拖到7月才能对这个计划作出决定。
Rehn said it was "regrettable" that the efforts to build national unity in Greece failed Wednesday, but that he still expected parliament to pass new austerity measures.
雷恩说，令人遗憾的是，希腊为建立国家团结的努力星期三遭到挫败，但是他仍然预期议会将通过新的紧缩措施。
On Wednesday, Greek citizens came out in the tens of thousands to protest the measures that Prime Minister George Papandreou is determined to push through parliament.
星期三，成千上万的希腊民众举行示威，反对总理帕潘德里欧决心要在议会获得通过的这个紧缩措施。
Papandreou responded by saying he will reshuffle his Cabinet and seek a vote of confidence for his new government in parliament. Papandreou added he will continue on what he called the "road of duty," together with his party members, officials, and the Greek people.
帕潘德里欧回应说，他将重组内阁，并且要求议会对他的新政府进行信任投票。帕潘德里欧说，他会和他的政党成员，官员以及希腊人民，继续向他所说的[责任道路]上迈进。
His plan to reshuffle the Cabinet came on the same day that anti-austerity riots hit Athens and coalition talks with the opposition failed.
帕潘德里欧计划重组内阁的同一天，雅典爆发了反对紧缩措施的骚乱，与反对派进行的联合政府会谈也宣告破裂。
Even some members of Papandreou's Socialist party are not behind his measures. On Thursday, two lawmakers from his party stepped down.
甚至帕潘德里欧领导的社会党部分成员也不支持他的紧缩措施。星期四，两名社会党议员辞职。
In Greece, the reaction to Papandreou's policy was mixed. A recent poll carried out by a market research company called Public Issue showed the main opposition party is beating the ruling Pasok socialist party in voter support.
在希腊，人们对帕潘德里欧的政策反应不一。一个叫做[公众议题]的市场研究公司最近所作的民调显示，主要的反对党比执政的泛希腊社会主义运动党获得更多的选民支持。Greek citizen Amalia Stinga says the prime minister is not making the effort he needs to make. She believes Papandreou is afraid. She adds that if he were not afraid, he would have done things differently.
希腊民众斯廷加说，总理没有尽力做到他需要的工作。她说， 帕潘德里欧瞻前顾后，如果他不怕的话，他就会有不同的做法。
Greece is in major debt and unable to pay back the money it owes. Last year, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pledged multi-billion-dollar loans in order to help Greece out of its financial troubles. But that money is conditional upon a tough austerity program.
希腊负债累累，无法偿还所欠的债款。去年，欧盟和国际货币基金组织承诺给希腊几十亿美元贷款，以帮助希腊解决财务问题。但是，贷款的条件是希腊必须采取大刀阔斧的紧缩项目。
Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Center for European Reform, based in London, says the current political turmoil in Greece was unavoidable given the terms set by the EU and the IMF.
塞门蒂尔福特是位于伦敦的欧洲改革中心首席经济学家。他说，欧盟和国际货币基金组织设下的条件使目前希腊出现的骚乱无法避免。
"What they are trying to do is almost impossible economically," noted Tilford. "The Greeks have met the terms of their fiscal austerity program. They have cut public spending by more than any other developed economy has ever done in such a short space of time. But because those public spending cuts have hit economic growth harder than the EU or the IMF thought they would, they are still in breach of their agreement."
蒂尔福特说：“他们的办法在经济上几乎是无法办到的。 希腊人已经达成了财政紧缩项目的条件。 在这么短的时间里，他们削减的公共支出比其他已开发国家做过得要多出很多。但是削减那些公共支出给经济增长的打击要比欧盟或国际货币基金组织预想的更为严重。希腊人还是无法履行贷款协议”
Tilford adds that there is a limit to how much any country can cut spending. And right now, spending cuts are only serving to stifle the Greek economy. He calls the situation a "death trap."
经济学家蒂尔福特说，每个国家削减开支的做法是有限度的。目前，削减开支只会让希腊经济窒息，他说，这种情况是个[死亡陷阱]。
"Unless there is a change of track by the EU and the IMF, further political instability is all but guaranteed," Tilford noted.
蒂尔福特说：“除非欧盟和国际货币基金组织改变做法，否则今后希腊的政治肯定不会稳定。”
On Thursday, world stocks hit a three-month low and the euro slumped to a one-month low.
星期四，世界股票市场下跌到3个月来的最低点，欧元则下跌到一个月来的最低价格。
