Starting Up

Exercise 1. Use your knowledge to answer the following questions:

-Why do you think the role of the Customs bodies in the South of Russia is important?

-What factors influence the development of Customs in the South of Russia?

-What has been done to better coordinate the activity of Customs in the South of Russia?

Word Study

Exercise 2. Match left and right.

1) preliminary declaration	a) (таможенная) очистка ввозимого и вывозимого груза
2) sea (river) checkpoints	b) оптимальная таможенная инфраструктура
3) lost freight	c) морские (речные) пункты пропуска
4) geographical location	d) потери груза при перевозке, погрузке и т.д.
5) Southern Customs Administration	e) предварительное декларирование
6) an optimal Customs infrastructure	f) контроль физических лиц и товаров
7) vocational training programmes	g) географическое положение
8) clearance of import and export traffic	h) Южное таможенное управление
9) favourable trade routes	i) профессиональные обучающие (учебные) программы
10) checks on goods and people	j) выгодные торговые пути

Reading and Speaking

Exercise 3. Read the text below to describe its main idea.

Text 1 Southern Customs Administration

The history of Rostov-on-Don dates back to 1749 when Empress Elizabeth set up a Customs-house on the Temernik River. It was established to control the trade with Turkey and keep in fear the Don Cossacks.

The Southern Federal region has a lot of advantages in geographical location because of favourable trade routes. The needs of business and trade for fast clearance of import and export traffic have to be considered alongside with the Customs checks of goods and people.

Nowadays the Southern Customs Administration is one of the largest among seven regional Administrations of the Federal Customs Service of Russia.

The Southern Customs Administration was founded in April 20, 1992. It is responsible for the territory of the Southern and North-Caucasian Federal regions with the total area of 590, 000 square kilometres. It borders on Ukraine (in the west), Kazakhstan (in the east), Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Southern Ossetia and Abhasia (in the south) – more than 4 000km.

The structure of the Southern Customs Administration comprises 13 Customs, 85 Customs posts, 72 Customs checkpoints (among them: 29 – car terminals; 10 – railway checkpoints, 15 – sea (river) checkpoints, 18 – air checkpoints. In the past years the Southern Customs Administration has established an optimal Customs infrastructure. It works in coordination with Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other Customs.

In order to facilitate the flow of passengers and freight, to have effective Customs control, and to reduce the amount of lost freight, the Southern Customs Administration has introduced up-to-date Customs technology: simplified Customs procedures, electronic and preliminary declaration. The Customs officers of the Southern and North-Caucasian Federal regions fight against illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, firearms, explosives, high-value items, jewelleries.

The higher educational establishment carrying out training of future Customs officers, Rostov Branch of the Russian Customs Academy was founded in June 30, 1995. The Academy gives opportunity to master vocational training programmes for students majoring in Customs Business, Economics, Management and Law (Jurisprudence).

Exercise 4. Comprehension questions.

1. Why was a Customs-house on the Temernik River established?

2. When was the Southern Customs Administration founded?

3. What is the structure of the Southern Customs Administration?

4. What is the area of responsibility for the Southern Customs Administration?

Exercise 5. Match left and right. Translate the word-combinations into Russian.

to facilitate	an optimal Customs infrastructure
to introduce	in fear the Don Cossacks
to establish	up-to-date Customs technology
to fight	training of future Customs officers
to reduce	the flow of passengers and freight
to carry out	against illegal trafficking
to keep	the amount of lost freight

Exercise 6. Fill in the gaps. Get ready to speak on the Southern Customs Administration’s activity.

1. The Southern Customs Administration was founded _______.

2. The structure of the Southern Customs Administration comprises ______.

3. The Southern Customs Administration has introduced up-to-date Customs technology to _______.

4. The Southern Customs Administration works in coordination with ______.

5. In order to have effective Customs control the Southern Customs Administration has introduced ________.

6. The Customs officers of the Southern and North-Caucasian Federal regions fight against _______.

7. Rostov Branch of the Russian Customs Academy offers all opportunities for _______.

Text 2

Exercise 7. Study the following words and word-combinations:

• to carry out Customs control efficiently – эффективно проводить таможенный контроль

• well trained staff – профессиональные кадры

• simplified procedures – упрощенные (таможенные) процедуры

• up-to-date – современный

• top priority – задача первоочередной важности

• fiscal function – бюджетная (фискальная) функция

• federal budget – федеральный бюджет

• Hi-Tech equipment – высокое техническое оснащение

• Heimann Cargo Vision Mobile (HCV-Mobile) – передвижной инспекционно-досмотровый комплекс (ИДК)

• to use search device – применять досмотровое устройство

• to be designed to – предназначаться для чего-либо

Exercise 8. Read the text below and translate the Russian words in the text from Russian into English.

Choose from:

procedures; vehicles; electronic declaration; containers; foreign trade participants; risk management system; revenues; Customs examination; responsibilities; imported and exported goods; efficiently; functions; staff; federal budget; top priorities; High-Tech equipment; Customs; smuggling; duties.