Customs regulations on valuables

Text

Under Russian law itemsolder than fifty years are considered part of Russia’s national and cultural heritage. But an object must be more than just old to be called an antique. Antiques of all kinds are highly valued for their beauty, craftsmanship, quality of design and sometimes for their relation to a historical period or to some well-known person.

Cultural valuables include: original hand-made pictures and drawings; sculptures, icons, engravings; handicrafts; ancient books and manuscripts; photo-, audio- and video- archives; unique and rare musical instruments, furniture, rugs; post stamps; various kinds of metal ware, orders, medals, coins; etc. Modern items and items of mass production are not related to cultural valuables.

Export and import of cultural valuables are regulated and controlled by the state bodies. Exported cultural valuables are subject to special registration in the order established by the Federal Customs Service and the Culture Ministry which keep the State Protection Lists and Registers.

There is a standard procedure for individuals who want to take cultural valuables out of the country. The owner must applyto the Culture Ministry for permission and present the proof of ownership for the valuable item. It can be a receipt from the shop or an auction or an old photo or some other document. When the necessary documents are received, the Ministry issues a certificate confirming the right to export cultural valuables. The certificate allows to carry cultural valuables across the customs and state border of the country.

When passing through the customs control a person should declare the valuable item both in his exit and entry declaration forms and it is obligatory to present it for inspection. Undeclared items found during the search are detained and the person may be accused of smuggling. Cultural valuables in search are subject to arrest for their following return to the legal proprietors.

The author has the right to take out of the Russian Federation any quantityof cultural valuables created by him, no matter whether he is leaving the country temporarilyorfor permanent residence abroad.

Illegal bringing in and taking out of cultural valuables is considered as smugglingand is to be punished in accordance with the Criminal Code or the legislation of the RF related to administrative violations.

Working on the text

Ex. 1Read and translate the text

Ex. 2 Try to guess the meaning of the words. Check with the dictionary.

bracelet, frame, medallion, brooch, ornaments, album, statuette, portrait, silver, candelabrum, vase, teapot, cross, gold, earrings, guitar, icon

Ex. 3 Translate the following words and phrases into Russian:

- under Russian law

- national and cultural heritage

- an antique

- original hand-made pictures

- ancient books and manuscripts

- items of mass production

- State Protection Lists

- proof of ownership

- the customs and state border

- cultural valuables in search

- legal proprietor

Ex. 4 Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:

считаться частью национального наследия; (не) относиться к культурным ценностям; подлежать специальной регистрации; вести реестр; вывозить культурные ценности; обратиться в Министерство культуры; предъявить доказательство права собственности; выдать сертификат; изъять не задекларированные ценности; обвинить в контрабанде; наказать в соответствии с законодательством

Ex. 5a) Match the antonyms:

old modern

ancient mass production

unique common

special permanent

original (n) new

rare ordinary

temporary copy

hand-made standard

b) Complete the sentences with the proper words:

1. This chair is a copy of the _______ design.

2. He was wearing a pair of expensive __________ shoes.

3. Computers are an essential part of _______ life.

4. The expert said that the paintings were rather _______, not valuable at all.

5. He was excited to see such a _______ icon.

6. We have a very _______ guest with us at the meeting today.

7. She was employed on a _______ basis.

8. Searching luggage at airports is now a _______ practice.

9. Each person’s fingerprints are _______.

Ex. 6 Insert prepositions if necessary and translate:

1) to regulate and control _____ import and export

2) to be subject _____ special registration

3) export is regulated _____ the state bodies

4) to present the proof _____ ownership _____ the valuable item

5) a receipt _____ the shop

6) when crossing _____ the border

7) to declare _____ the valuable item

8) to present _____ inspection

9) found _____ the search

10) accused _____ smuggling

11) to take _____ _____ the country

12) illegal bringing _____ is forbidden _____ law

13) to return _____ the legal proprietor

14) to apply _____ the Culture Ministry

Ex. 7 Complete the sentences.

1. Cultural valuables include . . .

2. Cultural valuables don’t include . . .

3. To move some cultural valuables across the border the person has to . . .

4. Culture Ministry officials . . .

5. When crossing the border it is obligatory to . . .

6. If customs officers find undeclared items during the search . . .

Ex. 8Answer the questions:

1. What can be called an antique?

2. What do cultural valuables include?

3. What items are not related to cultural valuables?

4. How does Culture Ministry control the export of antiques?

5. Is it possible for individuals to take valuables out of the country?

6. How can a person obtain a permission for export?

7. What can be accepted as the proof of ownership?

8. What must a person remember when passing through the customs control?

9. What can happen if the person violates the regulations?

10. What else have you learnt about the customs regulations on valuables?

Ex. 9Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1. Министерство культуры и таможенная служба контролируют ввоз и вывоз культурных и исторических ценностей.

2. Какие доказательства права собственности вы можете предъявить?

3. Перед тем, как выдать разрешение на вывоз, сотрудники Министерства культуры регистрируют ценности в специальном реестре.

4. Во время досмотра багажа таможенники обнаружили несколько старинных книг и рукописей.

5. Ваша коллекция современных иностранных монет не представляет ценности. Вам не нужно разрешение на вывоз, но вы должны ее задекларировать и предъявить для досмотра.

6. Этот художник регулярно вывозит свои картины на международные аукционы.

7. Ваш музыкальный инструмент находится в розыске. Мы изымаем его, и после проведения следствия он будет возвращен владельцу.

Ex. 10Get ready to speak on the topic.

Grammar

Modal verbs.

MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD

Ex. 1Find examples of the modal verbs in the text. Copy out the sentences.

Ex.2Fill in the following dialogue with the right modal verb from the box:

have to must should

Customs officer: Have you got only one suitcase?

Passenger: Yes, but I have got also hand luggage.

C.o.: Put your baggage on the belt, please. You’ll _____ open your traveling

bag. What’s this?

P.: It’s a picture. I bought it in a shop in the centre of Moscow.

C.o.: Do you know the Customs regulations on valuables?

P.: I’m not quite sure if I do. What _____ I do?

C.o.: First, you _____ have declared this picture in the declaration form.

P.: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t do that.

C.o.: Second, you _____ have the receipt with the statement “Allowed for

taking out of the Russian Federation” or a permission from the

Ministry of Culture. Do you have any?

P.: I’ve got only the receipt from but there is no statement on it.

C.o.: In this case I’ll _____ detain this picture, I’m sorry.

Ex.3 Express bewilderment (недоумение) in answer to request or command:

Model : Wait a minute. – Why should I wait?

1. Show me your currency.

2. Please, tell me the purpose of your visit.

3. Show me the permit for taking this icon out of the country.

4. Unpack your baggage.

5. Answer my questions.

6. Follow me.

7. Put your baggage on the belt.

VOCABULARY

valuable / valuables to consider heritage antique craftsmanship original hand-made engravings handicrafts manuscripts archive unique rare mass production state ( adj.) body to keep the State Protection List   register (n) to apply permission proof of ownership receipt auction to issue to confirm ground (n) obligatory to detain to accuse proprietor to create temporary Criminal Code administrative violation etc.

ценный / ценность рассматривать, считать наследие антикварная вещь мастерство оригинал, подлинник ручной работы гравюра ремесло, ручная работа рукопись архив единственный в своем роде редкий массового производства государственный организация, орган зд. вести (реестр, опись) Опись культурных ценностей, охраняемых государством зд. реестр обращаться разрешение доказательство права собственности квитанция, чек аукцион выдавать подтверждать основание, мотив обязательный изымать, задерживать обвинять владелец, собственник, хозяин создавать временный Уголовный кодекс административное правонарушение и другие = и др.

UNIT 8