I. Translate into Russian using active vocabulary
1. The agreements on extending trade and economic, industrial and technical cooperation between Russia and Canada were signed last week during Russian Foreign Minister’s stay in Ottawa. It was also agreedto resume talks on a programme for exchanges in science, education and other areas.
2. Russia has signed a protocol on completing bilateral talks with the United Arab Emirates on its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Russian Finance Minister said on Sunday. «The agreement that has been signed testifies to the parties' intention to develop and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the economic sphere within a multilateral trade system, contribute to more intense mutual trade and closer friendly relations», the Finance Minister said after a signing ceremony.
3. Despite considerable skepticism in Moscow and Washington, President Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev have made significant progress in restoring the bilateral relationship with important achievements on a number of issues. In recent months, however, critical voices in both countries have grown louder about prospects for further rapprochement.
4. In a recent meeting with Russia's ambassadors and envoys to international organizations, the Russian President called on Russian diplomats to shed old stereotypes and concentrate on three major goals: promoting economic and industrial modernization to build an innovative economy; strengthening Russia's democracy and civil society; and boosting international cooperation in the fight against organized crime.
5. Mr Cameron's one-day visit to Moscow is focusing on strengthening business links and improving conditions for UK firms in the country. The British Prime Minister urges to end the old culture of tit for tat and find ways for both countries to work togetherto advance mutual interests.
6. The presidents of Russia and Tajikistan confirmed plans to prepare an agreementextending Russia’s lease of a military base in the Central Asian republic by 49 years in early 2012. «We agreed to instruct our departments that a new forward-looking agreement for 49 years should be prepared for signing in the first quarter of the next year», Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said. Medvedev and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon confirmed their determination to finalize the deal in the agreed timeframe.
7. Russia is in favor of the development of all-round cooperation with Japan and other developed countries. Economic links are mutually beneficial, they promote the relaxation of international tension and help build confidence between the two countries.
8. Russia wants to trade and cooperate with Western countries, including Britain. It doesn’t seek one-sided advantages. Of course, such trade benefits Russia but it also benefits Western countries providing employment and often long-term orders. Long-term economic agreements between countries create trust in each other’s intentions. It is also true in a political sense as it promotes the development of peaceful coexistence. So the improvement in British-Russian economic cooperation is to be welcomed.
9. Russian-French cooperation has yielded considerable benefit to both countries. Economic and scientific ties of Russia and France embrace today such fields as space exploration, electronic computers, unique machinery and equipment.
10. «We have agreed that there should be a joint strategic framework document for the presidents to be able to record all of the elements of the U.S.-Russian relationship as we go forward into the future», said the US Secretary of State. She said negotiations had brought consensus on which parts of the relationship would be in the document; the dozen or so policy issues include trade, counter-terrorism and nuclear proliferation. Her counterpart, the Russian Foreign Minister said the talks also covered «some contentious issues where we have not reached agreement as of now», in particular missile defense and the exact legal form of a future bilateral limit on nuclear weapons.
11. In an interview with Sky News yesterday, the British Prime Minister said: «America is our most important ally, it will always be because of the values we share with America, and so it is central to how we conduct our foreign policy. The great change that is taking place, that I think is to the advantage of everyone, is that France and Germany and the EU are also moving more closely with America. And I think that’s to the benefit of Britain, it’s to the benefit of the world».
12. The New EU-Russia Agreement should provide a comprehensive framework for EU-Russia relations, and include substantive, legally binding commitments in all areas of the partnership, including a political dialogue, economic cooperation, research, education and culture, as well as solid provisions on trade, investment and energy.
13. The Russian market, despite the existing difficulties, is still attractive for the United Kingdom and the many British companies operating on this market. All this will contribute to a continuation of economic relations between Russia and the United Kingdom, however without a particular rapprochement between the countries.
14. It’s necessary to focus on the importance of cultural ties and contacts between people overall in modern diplomacy and in Russian-British relations. On the one hand, promotion of these is one of the ultimate aims of foreign policy, as access to culture and freedom of international connections is a vital condition for the successful development of any society. On the other, it is human links which, to a very great degree, enable the growth of mutual understanding between nations and create a positive background for relations at an intergovernmental level, as they strengthen mutual trust.
15. A 2010 agreement between Russia and Peru on visa-free short-term travel comes into effect on Tuesday. The agreement between the two governments was signed on November 13, 2010 in Japan's Yokohama. Under the agreement, Russian and Peruvian tourists are not required visas for entry, exit, transit or stay on the territory of another state for up to 90 days within each 180-day period from the first entry.
16. The Parties shall promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Canada and the Russian Federation on matters relating to the Arctic and the North, considering it as an important factor conducive to all-round development of their bilateral relations on a stable and long-term basis in the region. Cooperation under the present Agreementshall be carried out in consideration of other existing agreements.
17. Along with the United States and France, Russia has been part of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which has tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a diplomatic solution with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Russia has maintained close ties with Armenia and has a military base there, but it also recently stepped up its efforts to improve relations with energy-rich Azerbaijan.
18. The Russian parliament's upper house ratified agreements on Wednesday concluded last year with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, under which Moscow will set up military bases in the breakaway republics. The treaties allow Russia to operate military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia for an initial term of 49 years, with possible extensions for an additional 15 years.
19. The Geneva meetings follow hints of a thaw, including talks in New York in July between American and North Korean officials. And the Pentagon announced that officials meeting in Bangkok had reached agreement on a resumption of the search for the remains of Americans killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.
20. The Turkish head of state has a hectic schedule of ceremonial events, public engagements and political talks over the coming days as Britain forges closer links with the country. The republic is seen as an important ally in the fight against terrorism and the spread of Muslim extremists.