Syrian Glassmaker Is "Still Alive"

Most glassmakers' perception of a bad day is when a piece of equipment breaks down or the discovery that their furnace is faulty. However, these "everyday" problems pale in comparison for Syrian hollow glassmaker Modern Company for Glass Industries (MCGI). The glassmaker, based just outside the city of Homs, Syria, is caught in the middle of a civil war that has been waging for more than four years. Although the glassmaking site has not been damaged by the conflict, the resulting international sanctions against the country have hurt the company. Despite these continued sanctions, the company's Chairman, Aiman Raslan, said the business is "still alive".