8月17日VOA聽力：俄羅斯燒毀西方食品和鮮花
MOSCOW— Russia has burned flowers fromHolland in a battle against Western imports thatsaw the destruction of hundreds of tons of foodin retaliation for sanctions over Ukraine. Criticssay the action is unethical while Russia isstruggling against rising poverty.
Russia added Dutch flowers to the fire just days after officials destroyed more than 500 tons ofbanned Western food imports. Authorities say the flowers may have dangerous bugs. Butpolitical analysts say the timing with a Dutch-led investigation into the downing of a Malaysianairliner over Ukraine is meant to send a message.
“I do not think that this is coincidence. This is one more PR [public relations] action in thisanti-Western mainstream," said Andrei Kolesnikov, of Moscow's Carnegie Center.
Dutch investigators say they found suspected Russian missile fragments at the crash site.Meanwhile, the Kremlin blames Kyiv and suggests numerous Western conspiracies seeking totarnish Russia's image.
But critics say images of food destruction, when millions of Russians live in poverty, showofficials are the ones doing harm.
“This is the main point, ethical point, of this action. Because, for many many years there washunger in Russia," said Kolesnikov.
Authorities say the food ban is stimulating domestic substitutes, but it is also reducingcompetition and flooding the market with lower quality products.
“The situation is quite bad. With competition, with inflation, with consumer moods, with ...GDP growth, not growth, but decrease in GDP," continued Kolesnikov.
Russia bans food from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Norway, and the United States.The Kremlin plans to add more countries to its banned food list to include those supporting EUsanctions against Russia because of its actions in Ukraine.
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