The Priorities of Russian Diplomacy

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Ex.1 Summarize the following text in writing:

The new foreign policy concept of the RF formulates Russia’s national interests on the world arena. They are interrelated with defense and national security tasks as well as the tasks of ensuring Russia’s socio-economic development.

Amid growing globalization our strategic course is for integra­tion – integration into the world community – a broad political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation with all those interested in and ready for this cooperation.

One major priority for our diplomacy is ensuring strategic stability. This refers to predictability and steady advancement of international relations. Russia ratified the START-II Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Now we are waiting for reciprocal moves of disarming from others, first of all from the USA.

Our country is confronted with a number of tough problems: regional conflicts, separatism, terrorism, uncontrolled migration, organized crime, and others. We need to work very closely with our partners coordinating our efforts in these areas.

The Foreign Ministry and other foreign missions need to put a greater emphasis on economic diplomacy. It is essential to build up a system to promote and protect our economic interests abroad that would guarantee maximum economic effect for Russia, minimizing risks in the process of our integration into the world economy.

Another priority area is assistance to our regions, in particular Siberia and the Far East, in entering world markets. It is especially important to ensure effective coordination of efforts both with local administrations, the country’s regional authorities, and with the president’s representatives in federal districts. I would like to stress in this connection that failure to reckon with the country’s problems could lead to fatal mistakes.

Among the geographic unquestionable priorities are the CIS countries. Russia remains the natural nucleus of integration processes unfolding within the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, integration called upon to yield tangible benefit to our country and our citizens but not to be just a slogan.

Much has yet to be done in Europe. Our relations with the EU take on special importance. We should do all we can to enhance cooperation and upgrade its quality. While the overall situation is generally favourable, Russia is confronted with some serious problems in the Baltic region and Central and Eastern Europe

The process of normalizing our relations with the North Atlantic bloc is far from smooth. The priority is to build our relations in the spirit of frankness, openness, and constructive engagement, that would be a substantial contribution both to European stability and our own security. It should be stressed that we are to act in conformity with our national interests.

Asia is becoming an increasingly important area of activity. We need to gain a firm foothold in Asia through intensification of our involvement in the main integration structures in the Asia Pacific region and practical cooperation with leading Asian states, above all with our neighbours.

A special mention has to be made about one more essential priority of the Foreign Ministry and our diplomatic missions’ activity, namely about building up Russia’s positive image abroad. During many years our country has been considered as a source of danger. Nowadays the situation began to change. That’s why it’s very important to use all available levels: mass media, contacts with public organizations, and propaganda of our achievements in science and culture, in order to create a favourable image of our country abroad.

Ex.1 Translate the following text into English:

Тревожно и одновременно волнующе жить в период перемен, переживая переходный период и в социальном и в политическом и в экономическом развитии государств. Существует несколько основных факторов, способствующих нестабильности настоящей фазы, самыми важными из которых являются: внезапное экономическое освобождение китайского народа – одной пятой населения мира с сильным чувством национальной самобытности; процесс унифицирования государств Западной Европы, подъем воинственности масс и терроризма; потенциально неблагоприятные отношения между мировыми ресурсами и населением мира, угроза всеобщей окружающей среде; легкость и скорость распространения оружия массового уничтожения и др.

Влияние подобных изменений на обыкновенного человека выразилось в пассивном поглощении их скорых последствий в ежедневной жизни. Для дипломатов же любое изменение требует анализа причины и следствия, логического проектирования. Но это всегда было задачей дипломата; изменилась только степень её сложности. Можно также вполне уверенно сказать, что для дипломата потребность приобретать знания об общественном устройстве, профессиональные навыки и формировать соответствующие личные качества не только не исчезает, но и становится все более важной. Дипломатия становится все более сложной, более ответственной, более профессиональной.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27