22. Match the beginnings of the sentences with their endings.

1. Since the turn of the century, rising oil prices, increased foreign investment, higher domestic consumption and …

2. Growth was primarily driven by non-traded services and goods for the ...

3. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for …

4. Russia has also improved its international financial position since …

5. A principal factor in Russia's growth has been the combination of …

6. Arms sales have increased to the point where …

7. However, most such resources are located in remote and climatically unfavorable areas that are …

8. The new land code passed by the Duma in 2002 should speed restructuring and …

1. more than 80% of Russian exports abroad.

2. greater political stability have bolstered economic growth in Russia.

3. strong growth in productivity, real wages, and consumption.

4. difficult to develop and far from Russian ports.

5. domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports.

6. the 1998 financial crisis.

7. Russia is first in the world in sale of weapons.

8. attract new domestic investment to Russian agriculture.

23. Read the text again and draw up the plan.

24. Tell about the development of Russia’s economy using your own plan.

25. Make the correct word boundaries and make a text. Give the main idea of the text you have got after correction.

It is interesting to know that …

EXPECTINGTHEAREATOBECOMEMOREACCESSIBLEASCLIMATECHANGEMELTSARCTICICEANDBELIEVINGTHEAREACONTAINSLARGERESERVS OFUNTAPPEDOILANDNATURALGASONAUGUST22007RUSSIANEXPLORERSINSUBMERSIBLESPLANTEDTHERUSSIANFLAGONTHEARCTICSEABEDSTAKINGACLAIMTOENERGYSOURCESRIGHTUPTOTHENORTHPOLEREACTIONTOTHEEVENTWASMIXEDPRESIDENVLADIMIRPUTINCONGRATULATEDTHEEXPLORERSFORTHEOUTSTANDINGSCIENTIFICPROJECTWHILECANADIANOFFICIALSSTATEDTHEEXPEDITIONWASJUS APUBLI SHOW

To your opinion was it only a show?

What advantages will Russia have from this event? Give the examples.

26. Read the supplementary information about foreign relations and military of our country. Before reading the text study some new words and expressions:

albeit, союз; сокр. от "all though it be (that)"- хотя (и)

assets – фонды, активы

assume – принимать, брать на себя (ответственность)

conscription term – срок воинской службы

defense industry – оборонная промышленность

draft – призывать в армию

embassy – посольство

equal partners – равноправные партнеры

fleet – военно-морской флот

foreign policy – внешняя политика

implement – приводить в исполнение

international treaty – международный договор

joint collaboration – совместное сотрудничество

maintain relations – поддерживать отношения

procurement - приобретение

production facilities – производственное оборудование

proliferation – распространение

stockpile – запас, резерв

volatile – неустойчивый, непостоянный, изменчивый

Foreign relations and military

The Russian Federation has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, membership in other international organizations, the rights and obligations under international treaties and property and debts. Russia has a multifaceted foreign policy. It maintains diplomatic relations with 178 countries and has 140 embassies. Russia's foreign policy is determined by the President and implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia plays a major role in maintaining international peace and security, and plays a major role in resolving international conflicts by participating in the Quartet on the Middle East, the Six-party talks with North Korea, promoting the resolution of the Kosovo conflict and resolving nuclear proliferation issues. Russia is a member of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations, the Council of Europe, OSCE and APEC. Russia usually takes a leading role in regional organizations such as the CIS, EurAsEC, CSTO, and the SCO. Former President Vladimir Putin had advocated a strategic partnership with close integration in various dimensions including establishment of four common spaces between Russia and the EU. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has developed a friendlier, albeit volatile relationship with NATO. The NATO-Russia Council was established in 2002 to work together as equal partners to pursue opportunities for joint collaboration.

Pic. 46. Russian paratroopers at an exercise in Kazakhstan

Russia assumed control of Soviet assets abroad and most of the Soviet Union's production facilities and defense industries. The Russian military is divided into the Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force. There are also three independent arms of service: Strategic Rocket Forces, Military Space Forces, and the Airborne Troops. In 2006, the military had 1.037 million personnel on active duty.

Pic. 47. The RT-2UTTH Topol M, an ICBM designed to attempt to avoid missile defenses

Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world. It has the second largest fleet of ballistic missile submarines and is the only country apart from the U.S. with a modern strategic bomber force. The country has a large and fully indigenous arms industry, producing all of its own military equipment. Russia is the world's top supplier of weapons accounting for around 30% of worldwide weapons sales and exporting weapons to about 80 countries. Following the Soviet practice, it is mandatory for all male citizens aged 18–27 to be drafted for two years' Armed Forces service. But there are still various problems associated with this, such as dedovschina (institutionalised hazing). This explains why the armed forces have reduced the conscription term from 18 months to 12 since 2008, and are planning to increase the proportion of contract servicemen to 70% of the armed forces by 2010. Defense expenditure has quadrupled over the past six years. Official government military spends $40 billion for 2008 and makes Russia the eighth largest country in the world. But it is important to note that various sources, including US intelligence, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, have estimated Russia’s military expenditures to be considerably higher. Currently, the military is undergoing a major equipment upgrade with about $200 billion on procurement of military equipment between 2006 and 2015.