UNIT 1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,
DIPLOMACY
SECTION A
I
1. Read the article and look up the meaning of the underlined words in the dictionary.
Tokyo and Seoul explore free-trade pact
Japan and South Korea will take |
a |
significant step this week towards |
signing a |
bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA), |
an |
important concession for two Asian |
neighbors |
that have seen their relations worsened as the result of disagreements over their wartime history.
A spokesman for the Japan's prime minister said yesterday that the decision to try to forge an FTA would be announced during the prime minister's visit to South Korea this week, during which he will meet the country's President.
«The prime minister will point out that relations between the two have overcome some difficulties and will seek to transform the bilateral relationship so that it is more forwardlooking», a spokesman said.
The decision forms part of Japan's policy of seeking individual FTAs with its trading partners and follows a similar agreement signed last year with Singapore.Negotiations are also under way for an FTA with Mexico.
During his visit the prime minister is also expected to discuss relations with North Korea and other issues of mutual interest.
2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.
To point out; a bilateral agreement; a concession; to be under way; to forge (an agreement/a policy); problems of mutual interest; negotiations; the prime minister is expected to discuss; to take a significant step towards/to.
3.Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases. Reproduce the sentences from the article with them.
Ожидается, что премьер министр обсудит; уступка; проходить (о переговорах); двустороннее соглашение; добиваться соглашения; подчеркивать; вопросы, представляющие взаимный интерес; значительно продвинуться вперед, переговоры.
4.Read the article again and answer the questions.
1.What significant event is expected in bilateral relations of Japan and South Korea?
2.What decision is to be announced during the prime minister's visit to South Korea?
3.What will the prime minister point out during his visit?
4.What is Japan's foreign policy line in this respect?
5.What other issues is the prime minister going to discuss?
II
1. Read the article and look up the meaning of the underlined words in the dictionary.
Montenegro and Serbia agree to remain together
The European Union's |
foreign |
policy |
chief |
yesterday pulled |
off |
a significant |
diplomatic success after |
persuading |
the |
two |
Yugoslav republics |
of |
Serbia and |
Montenegro to stay together in a new union rather than opt for independence.
The agreement, forged after 12 hours of intense negotiations between Montenegrin and Serbian leaders in Belgrade, strengthens the EU's role in «preventive» diplomacy as it takes on greater responsibility and security in the Balkans.
The deal, effectively keeping Montenegro within the federation, but with equal powers with Serbia, prevents further fragmentation of the Western Balkans. The region is slowly returning to stability after three brutal wars that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives during the
Under the arrangements, after a constitution comes into force Serbia and Montenegro will be organized under one parliament, president, council of ministers and court.
The council will be responsible for foreign affairs, defense, international economic relations, internal economic relations and protection of human and minority rights. The economic systems of both republics will be eventually harmonized with EU rules.
2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.
To opt for independence; to take on responsibility; to come into force; to protect minority rights; to pull off a success; to claim hundreds of thousands of lives; under the arrangements; to strengthen.
3.Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases. Reproduce the sentences from the article with them.
Осуществлять/добиваться успеха; выбирать независимость; вступить в силу; защищать права меньшинств; брать на себя ответственность; унести сотни тысяч жизней; в соответствии с договоренностями; укреплять.
4.Read the article again and answer the questions.
1.What significant success was reached by the EU's foreign policy chief?
2.What EU role does this agreement strengthen?
3.What does this agreement prevent?
4.In what way will the two countries be organized?
5.What will happen to the economic systems of both countries?
5.Questions for discussion.
1.Why do you think the success of persuading the two countries to stay together was called significant?
2.Do you agree that both republics would benefit from it?
3.What is «preventive diplomacy»? Can you think of other examples of preventive diplomacy?
4.Why do you think this agreement is so important? What does it prevent?
6.Render the article in English.
III
1. Read the article and look up the meaning of the underlined words and phrases in the dictionary.
US ready to resume arms sales to India
The US yesterday signaled it was ready to resume arms sales to India as the US chairman of the joint chiefs of staff1 announced that detailed negotiations were under wavfor the sale of weapon-seeking radars to New Delhi.
Closing a two-day visit to New Delhi the US chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said the two countries were ready to finalize terms for the radar deal. US officials in India said the deal represented the start of a new era of defense exports to India.
The US embassy said it marked a symbolic shift in the US attitude towards defense exports to India and that a renewed arms export relationship was part of the wider warming of relations between the two countries.
Later this week, a group of US defense officials will arrive in New Delhi for further talks with the Minister of Defense on the terms of the sale.
2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.
A shift in attitude; the negotiations are under way; to resume arms sales; the terms of the sale; to finalize smth.
3. Give English equivalents to the following words and phrases.
Условия сделки; переговоры проходят; окончательно утверждать/оформлять условия/сроки; перемена отношения; возобновлять продажу вооружения.
4.Complete the following statements using the active vocabulary.
1.The US signaled it was ready ...
2.The US official announced that detailed negotiations...
3.The US chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said that the two countries were ready...
4.This deal marks an important shift...
5.A group of US defense officials ...
5.Render the article in English using the active vocabulary.
IV
1. Read the article and look up the meaning of the underlined words and phrases in the dictionary.
Koreans set to resume family reunions
North and South Korea were last night ready to resume reunions of families separated by the peninsula's sealed border and launch a new round of talks about economic cooperation, reviving Seoul's «sunshine» policy of reconciliation.
The two countries were expected to confirm the breakthrough today after three days of discussion in Pyongyang, ending a five-month freeze in contact.
Yesterday's agreement was welcomed in Seoul as a further sign that Pyongyang wanted to improve its thorny international relations. «The talks have put inter-Korean dialogue back on track». said an official in Seoul. The talks between the two sides were said to have been frank and
The last round of family reunions brought together scores of people who had not seen each other since the border was sealed at the end of the 1950-53 Korean war. More than 1 million elderly people in South Korea are split from immediate family in the North.
2.Give English equivalents to the following words and phrases and reproduce the sentences from the article with them.
Ожидается, что стороны подтвердят...; закрытая граница; воссоединение семей; начать новый раунд переговоров; вернуть диалог в прежнее русло; расколоться; прорыв; примирение; сердечный; возобновлять.
3.Read the article again and answer the questions.
1.What process started in inter-Korean relations?
2.What are the two countries expected to confirm?
3.Why was this agreement welcomed so much?
4.What did the last round of family reunions bring?
5.Why do you think this process is so important for both countries? What do you know about the Korean war and the separation of one country into two?
V
Translate the following texts into English using Translation Notes.